Lateral question (Philadelphia market) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hoping you guys can provide some input here. I went to a T20 and finished 1L year slightly below median. Obviously, I did not get a biglaw gig. I got an SA position at a small firm in my desired practice area in the Philadelphia market, and this turned into my current job (been here about two years). I do small time M&A, private placements, securities, etc.

I really want to lateral to a larger firm in order to focus more heavily on corporate work. Being at a small firm, I often get stuck doing real estate and litigation, and this makes it difficult to specialize. I think I have reached the point where I no longer feel like I'm growing as an attorney. I finished law school in the top 25%, and am wondering whether it will be possible to move to a larger firm in the next year or so. Anyone have experience doing this (small corporate to large corporate)? Any advice would be appreciated, especially from anyone who has done this in Philly.

[Anonymous User]

There are big-firm openings all the time in Philly. What happens when you apply? You noted that your school is a T20, that should help. Aside from the prestigious UPENN, Philly firms often hire attorneys that attended nearby law-schools (Temple, Nova, etc.) all way outside the T20.

[Anonymous User]

Haven't applied anywhere yet. Just starting to explore options.

[Anonymous User]

Bump. Anyone else have experience here? I honestly feel like I shot myself in the foot by going to a T20 and not a local school like Villanova.

[Anonymous User]

Hoping you guys can provide some input here. I went to a T20 and finished 1L year slightly below median. Obviously, I did not get a biglaw gig. I got an SA position at a small firm in my desired practice area in the Philadelphia market, and this turned into my current job (been here about two years). I do small time M&A, private placements, securities, etc.

I really want to lateral to a larger firm in order to focus more heavily on corporate work. Being at a small firm, I often get stuck doing real estate and litigation, and this makes it difficult to specialize. I think I have reached the point where I no longer feel like I'm growing as an attorney. I finished law school in the top 25%, and am wondering whether it will be possible to move to a larger firm in the next year or so. Anyone have experience doing this (small corporate to large corporate)? Any advice would be appreciated, especially from anyone who has done this in Philly.

Apply to Pepper. Swear, there is so much attrition in corporate there that you will almost undoubtedly get an interview. Also work your alumni network--have coffee with alums. At least some of them must be in Philly. Speak with your alumni office and troll linked in. Write a nice email saying you're interested in hearing about their career yadda yadda. Someone will help. Gotta keep trying!

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the advice. I've actually been looking at Pepper for a while. Definitely need to start hitting up alums though.

[HarrisonBarnes]

You absolutely should emphasize your corporate experience over your litigation and other experience. You can tell them you are seeking a new position because of the fact that you are interested in doing only corporate. Smaller law firms are dangerous because they typically do not have large institutional clients that demand their attorneys be specialized--their attorneys therefore do multiple things. By being specialized you and working in top corporate practice you will be better off.

In my experience--and over 20 years of speaking with and recruiting attorneys in this market, these are the firms I would approach. They are all respected in the market and the best firms there. If you approach them all you are likely to have some success.

Best Corporate Practices in Philadelphia
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Anderson Kill P.C.
Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP
ballard spahr llp
Berger & Montague, P.C.
blank rome llp
Bonner kiernan trebach & Crociata LLP
buchanan ingersoll rooney pc
Budd Larner P.C.
Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry
Clark Hill PLC
Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC
Cozen O'Connor
dilworth paxson llp
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
duane morris llp
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC
Elliott Greenleaf
Fellheimer & Eichen LLP
Fisher Zucker, LLC
FisherBroyles, LLP
Flaster/Greenberg, P.C.
fox rothschild llp
genova burns
Gibbons P.C.
Goehring, Rutter & Boehm, Attorney at Law
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Jacoby Donner, P.C.
Kaufman, Coren & Ress, P.C.
klehr harrison harvey branzburg llp
Kline & Specter, PC
Kohn, Swift & Graf, P.C.
Langer, Grogan & Diver PC
Lavin, O'Neil, Cedrone & DiSipio
LeClairRyan
Lurio & Associates, P.C.
Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox LLP
McCarter & English, LLP
Miller & Chevalier
Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP
Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP
Offit Kurman, Attorneys At Law
Pepper Hamilton LLP
Reed Smith LLP
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr
Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis LLP
smith kane holman llc
Spector Gadon & Rosen, P.C.
Spector Roseman Kodroff & Willis, P.C.
Stevens & Lee
Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young LLP
Weir & Partners LLP
Welsh & Recker
white and williams llp
Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer
Wilkes & McHugh, P.A.
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP


Here are some additional resources to help you:

https://www.bcgsearch.com/article/90004 ... al-Career/
https://www.bcgsearch.com/article/90004 ... al-Career/
https://www.bcgsearch.com/article/90004 ... Law-Firms/
https://www.bcgsearch.com/article/90004 ... -Law-Firm/

[RaceJudicata]

You absolutely should emphasize your corporate experience over your litigation and other experience. You can tell them you are seeking a new position because of the fact that you are interested in doing only corporate. Smaller law firms are dangerous because they typically do not have large institutional clients that demand their attorneys be specialized--their attorneys therefore do multiple things. By being specialized you and working in top corporate practice you will be better off.

In my experience--and over 20 years of speaking with and recruiting attorneys in this market, these are the firms I would approach. They are all respected in the market and the best firms there. If you approach them all you are likely to have some success.

Best Corporate Practices in Philadelphia
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Anderson Kill P.C.
Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP
Ballard Spahr LLP
Berger & Montague, P.C.
Blank Rome LLP
Bonner Kiernan Trebach & Crociata LLP
Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney PC
Budd Larner P.C.
Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry
Clark Hill PLC
Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC
Cozen O'Connor
Dilworth Paxson LLP
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Duane Morris LLP
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC
Elliott Greenleaf
Fellheimer & Eichen LLP
Fisher Zucker, LLC
FisherBroyles, LLP
Flaster/Greenberg, P.C.
Fox Rothschild LLP
Genova Burns
Gibbons P.C.
Goehring, Rutter & Boehm, Attorney At Law
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Jacoby Donner, P.C.
Kaufman, Coren & Ress, P.C.
Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP
Kline & Specter, PC
Kohn, Swift & Graf, P.C.
Langer, Grogan & Diver PC
Lavin, O'Neil, Cedrone & DiSipio
LeClairRyan
Lurio & Associates, P.C.
Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox LLP
McCarter & English, LLP
Miller & Chevalier
Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP
Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP
Offit Kurman, Attorneys At Law
Pepper Hamilton LLP
Reed Smith LLP
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr
Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis LLP
Smith Kane Holman LLC
Spector Gadon & Rosen, P.C.
Spector Roseman Kodroff & Willis, P.C.
Stevens & Lee
Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young LLP
Weir & Partners LLP
Welsh & Recker
White and Williams LLP
Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer
Wilkes & McHugh, P.A.
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP


Here are some additional resources to help you:

https://www.bcgsearch.com/article/90004 ... al-Career/
https://www.bcgsearch.com/article/90004 ... al-Career/
https://www.bcgsearch.com/article/90004 ... Law-Firms/
https://www.bcgsearch.com/article/90004 ... -Law-Firm/

Listing the “best” corporate firms in philly, and not naming the two biggest firms. Interesting.

[HarrisonBarnes]

Yes, Morgan Lewis and Dechert are large law firms that are there. I like Dechert a lot--it was a mistake leaving them out. Read up on Morgan Lewis, though. They have historically been a very good firm there but the law firm does merit more investigation if you are interested in them.

[Anonymous User]

Deleted

[Anonymous User]

Yes, Morgan Lewis and Dechert are large law firms that are there. I like Dechert a lot--it was a mistake leaving them out. Read up on Morgan Lewis, though. They have historically been a very good firm there but the law firm does merit more investigation if you are interested in them.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by this re: Morgan Lewis? I have an offer from them and it would be incredibly helpful since I'm very much considering accepting their offer.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks for the list. I figured I wouldn't have a chance at Dechert or Morgan Lewis anyway. To the above poster, were you previously at another big firm?

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks for the list. I figured I wouldn't have a chance at Dechert or Morgan Lewis anyway. To the above poster, were you previously at another big firm?

Yeah, I was at a big firm in DC.

[Mencken1]

To the OP:

How much did you make at the small firm?

I am seriously considering temple and am curious about this outcome.

Thanks