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Hello everyone, I am a 2L going through OCI right now, looking at the SF market. Curious about whether to join an indigenous firm (Cooley/WSGR/Fenwick) or a national firm strong in PE (K&E, Weil). If the former, I will do venture capital/emerging companies work. What I heard is that you follow through all stages of a company and have client exposure early on, which is pretty exciting. On the other hand, in private equity, I could work on bigger deals, learn about different industries, and develop an expertise.

My characterization can be inaccurate. But which path provides better growth opportunities for junior lawyers? exit option? fun?

Thanks!

Anonymous User wrote:Hello everyone, I am a 2L going through OCI right now, looking at the SF market. Curious about whether to join an indigenous firm (Cooley/WSGR/Fenwick) or a national firm strong in PE (K&E, Weil). If the former, I will do venture capital/emerging companies work. What I heard is that you follow through all stages of a company and have client exposure early on, which is pretty exciting. On the other hand, in private equity, I could work on bigger deals, learn about different industries, and develop an expertise.

My characterization can be inaccurate. But which path provides better growth opportunities for junior lawyers? exit option? fun?

Thanks!

Biased but I think the hours, lifestyle and exit opportunities are way better at C/W/F. PE isn't a big deal in SF. EC/VC is the industry. I'd rather be working in the main industry in any locale than doing something that's bigger somewhere else.

If you mean truly VC/EC vs. public companies/IPOs (which is different and those firms all do) I think it's slightly less good but still better than K&E and Weil. Idek how much PE Weil does in SV. They do a lot of M&A out of SV (not necessarily PE).