Wilson Sonsini litigation Forum

[Anonymous User]

Current midlevel/senior associate considering a lateral move to an East Coast Wilson Sonsini office to do litigation. Would appreciate any info on culture, composition of litigation work, compensation, benefits, partnership prospects, turnover, up-or-out mentality, exit ops, etc. Offhand I have heard that it is heavily siloed, can be a sweatshop, and that the firm pinches pennies.

[Anonymous User]

Current midlevel/senior associate considering a lateral move to an East Coast Wilson Sonsini office to do litigation. Would appreciate any info on culture, composition of litigation work, compensation, benefits, partnership prospects, turnover, up-or-out mentality, exit ops, etc. Offhand I have heard that it is heavily siloed, can be a sweatshop, and that the firm pinches pennies.

I interviewed at WSGR D.C. a few years ago. (No sour grapes, I received an offer.) Most of the people I met, including all of the counsels/partners I met, seemed genuinely nice, and the hours seemed to be roughly as bad as, but not worse than, other BigLaw shops (i.e., it's not a "lifestyle firm" and you shouldn't expect lighter/secondary-market hours). But I also encountered some surprisingly offputting behavior from a few of the associates - not sure if it was some kind of mind game/hazing ritual or if they were genuine jerks. That was mainly what put me off.

At least at the time, the "dinner" for working late consisted of pizza; and to get access to the free pizza you had to have clocked a pretty high number of hours that day (IIRC 8 billables, so too bad if you spent half the day doing nonbillable work or if you had a light day that unexpectedly blew up late in the afternoon). That seemed pretty lame to me, but maybe it's changed now.

Major caveat, some or all of the above may not apply to WSGR NYC/Boston.

[LBJ's Hair]

At least at the time, the "dinner" for working late consisted of pizza; and to get access to the free pizza you had to have clocked a pretty high number of hours that day (IIRC 8 billables, so too bad if you spent half the day doing nonbillable work or if you had a light day that unexpectedly blew up late in the afternoon). That seemed pretty lame to me, but maybe it's changed now.

Major caveat, some or all of the above may not apply to WSGR NYC/Boston.

This is extremely weird, think we all really want details here lol

Are you only allowed to expense "pizza" as a category of food? So if I Seamless from Larry Lasagna's Italian, I can expense pizza but not spaghetti? Or would the office would just order pizza in and to get a slice you had to give a client code? Or did they have a cafeteria that exclusively made pizza? Or?

[Anonymous User]

Current midlevel/senior associate considering a lateral move to an East Coast Wilson Sonsini office to do litigation. Would appreciate any info on culture, composition of litigation work, compensation, benefits, partnership prospects, turnover, up-or-out mentality, exit ops, etc. Offhand I have heard that it is heavily siloed, can be a sweatshop, and that the firm pinches pennies.

Their antitrust group at DC office is great though there are some weird folks in other groups. Many of other litigation attorneys are at NY office though. Now they are using seamless (you can order up to $25 if you work past 7pm) so don't worry about pizza stuff.

[Anonymous User]

This is extremely weird, think we all really want details here lol

Are you only allowed to expense "pizza" as a category of food? So if I Seamless from Larry Lasagna's Italian, I can expense pizza but not spaghetti? Or would the office would just order pizza in and to get a slice you had to give a client code? Or did they have a cafeteria that exclusively made pizza? Or?

Pizza anon above. I was told the office would order pizza in, and to get a slice you had to sign in on a sheet. You were required to have billed 8 hours total that day (not entirely clear whether you had to have already billed 8 hours before getting pizza or if you just needed to bill 8 total before heading home that night). I think the pizza expense was just swallowed by the firm (hence the billable requirement to make sure people didn't "abuse" it).

Glad to hear they've moved to Seamless now.

[Elston Gunn]

Pizza anon, thank you. Can we have some more details? You say “a slice.” Were you only allowed one slice? Could you get a second if you billed 10 hours? What if they ran out? What kind of pizza? Dominos? Something a bit fancier? Toppings?

Thanks in advance.

[The Lsat Airbender]

Pizza anon, thank you. Can we have some more details? You say “a slice.” Were you only allowed one slice? Could you get a second if you billed 10 hours? What if they ran out? What kind of pizza? Dominos? Something a bit fancier? Toppings?

Thanks in advance.

- pathern wondering how he can implement this at his own firm

[BlackAndOrange84]

I am so sad this thread petered out. WSG pizza content is best content.

[LBJ's Hair]

Bumping for Pizza Anon. Lot of potential here, please don't let us down

[Anonymous User]

OP here. I too would appreciate any additional information about WSGR, including its past pizza program. Thanks to all who have chimed in so far.

[Anonymous User]

Pizza anon again. Afraid I don't have too many more details. I declined my offer so no firsthand experience, only what the associates told me. I assume you could have more than one slice. They said the pizza didn't really run out, but there was a real risk of it going cold and inedible if you didn't get it right when it was delivered. Not sure which restaurant they used. The pizza was supposedly pretty basic, there would be cheese pizza and maybe one or two varieties with toppings. Wasn't like, high-end pizza or anything. But the associates said you grew to appreciate it because it was free.

[LBJ's Hair]

But the associates said you grew to appreciate [the pizza] because it was free.

But it is different . . . when the suffering is imposed by those who are supposed to love you, whom you are supposed to love. Then there is no escape, then you must learn to love the lash, and then there are no noble examples to follow; there is no nobility at all.

[BeeTeeZ]

Pizza anon again. Afraid I don't have too many more details. I declined my offer so no firsthand experience, only what the associates told me. I assume you could have more than one slice. They said the pizza didn't really run out, but there was a real risk of it going cold and inedible if you didn't get it right when it was delivered. Not sure which restaurant they used. The pizza was supposedly pretty basic, there would be cheese pizza and maybe one or two varieties with toppings. Wasn't like, high-end pizza or anything. But the associates said you grew to appreciate it because it was free.

Somehow this seems worse than not getting free pizza.