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Interested in corporate/transactional work (Cap markets, M&A). Deciding between Latham, Kirkland, STB, DPW.

Choice should be between Davis Polk and Simpson Thacher. Latham and Kirkland are not DPW/STB peers in NYC. I would choose based on gut, as there isn't a wrong choice between the two.

For capital markets or public M&A, Davis Polk. For PE/real estate, Simpson.

Kirkland is definitely on par with these firms in terms of reputation and deal volume. However, it’s also an absolutely terrible place to work, whereas DPW and STB are at least somewhat humane within the realm of elite NY corporate big law. (Not necessarily in terms of hours, but culture.)

Anonymous User wrote:For capital markets or public M&A, Davis Polk. For PE/real estate, Simpson.

Kirkland is definitely on par with these firms in terms of reputation and deal volume. However, it’s also an absolutely terrible place to work, whereas DPW and STB are at least somewhat humane within the realm of elite NY corporate big law. (Not necessarily in terms of hours, but culture.)

I think this is a bit misleading—DPW has been growing their PE practice and STB does lots of strategic m&a (to be clear, the PE vs public m&a distinction makes no sense—it’s private vs public or PE vs strategic, and even then the lines are less clear than people would have you believe).

I would say it’s a toss-up for M&A between the two firms, while DPW has a better FIG/restructuring practice (by a wide margin) and a better cap markets practice (by a narrow margin), while STB has a better real estate/fund formation practice (by a wide margin).

Anonymous User wrote:For capital markets or public M&A, Davis Polk. For PE/real estate, Simpson.

Kirkland is definitely on par with these firms in terms of reputation and deal volume. However, it’s also an absolutely terrible place to work, whereas DPW and STB are at least somewhat humane within the realm of elite NY corporate big law. (Not necessarily in terms of hours, but culture.)

From speaking with and knowing both STB and KE associates, in no way should you think STB is better place to work than KE—especially for corporate. STB corporate associates are getting crushed. The hours seem just as brutal at both places and the partners just as shitty. I would to see OP here pick STB thinking it’d be more humane that KE.

If you are to pick STB pick it for a legitimate difference. Like their central assignment system, more public M&A deals, or their better cap markets practice.

Also, DPW is not any better at public M&A and Cap Markets than STB. Both firms are the shit when it comes to those practice areas. But if there was one firm in the V10 I’d call humane (even though I won’t) it’s be DPW.