NY Firm Choice Forum

[Anonymous User]

I just finished callbacks and have offers from Willkie Farr, Goodwin, Cadwalader, Morgan Lewis, and Akin Gump (all NYC). I'm interested in transactional work. Any advice about making the decision would be very appreciated. Thank you!

[Anonymous User]

I can only comment on Akin, who I considered for a non-corporate practice. Multiple NYC friends in corporate law called the practice weak, they felt that Akin's primary NYC work was in restructuring (with a litigation focus in that group) & that they couldn't cross-sell the funds they represent on their corporate services. There was also some negative comment on Akin NY not being the head office (I believe Akin Dallas is HQ.) The sense I got was that Akin NY corporate existed to serve a few Akin TX clients, but again did not look into it closely.

[Vexed]

Do you have any sort of specific interest in a type of practice beyond transactional work generally?

[TUwave]

Do you have any sort of specific interest in a type of practice beyond transactional work generally?

Yeah practice area interest would help.

Also, something to think about is whether you want to be at a HQ or a satellite? Willkie and Cadwalder are NY firms, Goodwin(Boston), Morgan Lewis (Philly) and Akin (Dallas) HQs are elsewhere.

[Idontwanttomakeaname]

I can’t say from first hand experience but everyone I know who has worked at Cadwallader in New York has really bad things to say about it. A little searching this forum should uncover some firsthand horror stories

[AlbertParsons]

I can only speak a bit on Akin. The above posters are not right that the HQ is located in Dallas. I think Akin started in TX, but the largest offices are now DC #1 and NY a close #2 based on headcount. I think the chairperson has an office in each office. Is the Akin corporate group on the same level as other large corporate groups in NY? Perhaps not on dollar amounts but they have a good deal flow and are looking to grow it. If you feel that uncomfortable about it, I don't think there would be anything wrong with asking to do a touchback and meeting with a midlevel or senior corporate associate and talk to them about their work.

[Anonymous User]

I'm the anon you're disagreeing with who considered Akin for a non-corporate practice in NY.

Kim Koopersmith does have offices in NYC/DC, but it's a question of where the firm's power is / where decisions are being made. Akin TX definitely is a major power center of the firm, which is different from a lot of NYC shops.

I don't know how to evaluate Akin's deal flow, but I know that people can hit hours without an issue. I also know that Akin corporate people feel like their work isn't sexy and are concerned that it's too energy-oriented. The practice is looking to grow, but imo that's pretty meaningless -- who is not looking to grow right now? (in the sense of increasing the book of business.)

Regardless, second the touchback suggestion.

[Anonymous User]

I just finished callbacks and have offers from Willkie Farr, Goodwin, Cadwalader, Morgan Lewis, and Akin Gump (all NYC). I'm interested in transactional work. Any advice about making the decision would be very appreciated. Thank you!

Did you interview at one of Morgan Lewis’ super days? How long did it take to hear back after the callback?

[Anonymous User]

I just finished callbacks and have offers from Willkie Farr, Goodwin, Cadwalader, Morgan Lewis, and Akin Gump (all NYC). I'm interested in transactional work. Any advice about making the decision would be very appreciated. Thank you!

My only advice would be don't pick Cadwalader. Zero partnership prospects, limited scope of transactional practice, declining revenue in the past 3 of 4 years, and it's well known for its toxic culture. They are truly one of the very last firms to recover from the recession, but unlike some of the others that also saw giant drops in Vault rankings they haven't diversified their practice. They'll probably get hosed particularly hard in the next recession.

[Anonymous User]

I summered at Akin. Akin's HQ is DC and the Texas offices don't have a lot of leeway. They aren't satellite offices but they have very little power in the firm compared to NYC (highest headcount) and DC (HQ).

Also, I don't know where you got that Akin NYC exists to service Texas work. There are 250 attorneys in NYC and they are not generally there to service the Texas offices.

[Anonymous User]

Avoid Cadwallader. I interviewed with them. Bad culture.
Goodwin actually has a strong presence in NYC. They hired even more summers than Boston office. NY office has about 400 people.

[Anonymous User]

I summered at Akin. Akin's HQ is DC and the Texas offices don't have a lot of leeway. They aren't satellite offices but they have very little power in the firm compared to NYC (highest headcount) and DC (HQ).

Also, I don't know where you got that Akin NYC exists to service Texas work. There are 250 attorneys in NYC and they are not generally there to service the Texas offices.

I worked at Akin in Texas - the Dallas office is basically the definition of a satellite now (over half of the Dallas associates' work comes from NYC), and the Houston office isn't that much stronger. The power at Akin for corporate is basically all in NYC and the power for lit is split between NYC and DC. I would avoid Akin Texas at all costs but would definitely consider the NYC offices for transactional work, depending on what other offers I had.