SF vs. SV Offices for Corporate Work Forum

[Anonymous User]

Posting anon because I am considering switching firms. My understanding is that traditionally most corporate work, and especially VC/EC work, was done out of the SV offices of firms in the Bay Area. I know that there has been some migration to SF in recent years, but is that divide of work between offices still true for top firms like Cooley, WSGR, Fenwick, Gunderson, Goodwin, etc? Even Orrick seems to have more corporate lawyers working out of their SV office, at least on the emerging companies side. I am looking at moving to the Bay Area, but will likely be living in SF, and I am trying to decide how much I would limit my options if I focused my search on SF offices of firms that serve tech clients, especially in the emerging companies space (although I wouldn't mind some late stage or public company work as well). I am a junior associate.

[Anonymous User]

Had the exact same question when I was in your exact same position.

I think the distinction has started evaporating from what I can tell, and extended WFH will likely accelerate it. It could be a bit firm-by-firm specific in terms of how much cross office staffing you could expect, which could matter if there were specific partners (higher percent of partners live in the SV suburbs for historical and practical reasons), or specific subindustries that you really wanted to focus on (for example SF is going to have more software/consumer startups while basically zero in hardware/harder tech given you need actual space). If you know you'd rather live in SF then as a junior especially I think it is no-brainer to just do that.

[Anonymous User]

Agree with the above poster; distinction seems minimal but also firm specific. The sense I got was that most associates chose to be in SF/SV based on the culture of the office they were at/the people they would be working with. I know an associate at one of the firms you mentioned who lives in SF but commutes down to the SV office because they prefer the people in the practice group there. Some firms have pretty different cultures in their SF/SV offices: I interviewed at K&E SV and thought it seemed very quiet and relaxed; those I know who interviewed at K&E SF said it was horribly bro-y.

My firm, which is a more lit-focused satellite office, works pretty seamlessly between its Bay Area offices, though the SV office has more of a tech bent and older partners.

I think most firms would be OK with you working for attorneys in the SV office from the SF office; I wouldn't limit my search too much unless you have the credentials to be choosey.

[Anonymous User]

Thank you both for your replies. My SO will be working in SF, so we'll be living there or at least not too far down the peninsula. I guess I am trying to decide how to approach firms that have offices in both places. It seems riskier to apply to the SF office, because they are smaller, but I'd also rather avoid the long commute if I can help it. I also think we'll be in SF long-term, so all things being equal I'd rather have a network that is more centered in SF. But I am trying to get a read on whether there are significantly bigger practices in SV, and therefore my odds are much better if I direct my search there.

[attorney589753]

OP, feel free to PM me.

[abogado2018]

OP, I'm at one of the offices you mentioned. Feel free to PM me.

[Anonymous User]

OP, I'm at one of the offices you mentioned. Feel free to PM me.

PM sent. Thank you.

[Anonymous User]

OP, feel free to PM me.

PM sent. Thanks!

[attorney589753]

I think you may have PM replies turned off

[Anonymous User]

I think you may have PM replies turned off

Shoot, you are correct. I didn't know that was possible. Fixed now.

[DiligentSage]

Posting anon because I am considering switching firms. My understanding is that traditionally most corporate work, and especially VC/EC work, was done out of the SV offices of firms in the Bay Area. I know that there has been some migration to SF in recent years, but is that divide of work between offices still true for top firms like Cooley, WSGR, Fenwick, Gunderson, Goodwin, etc? Even Orrick seems to have more corporate lawyers working out of their SV office, at least on the emerging companies side. I am looking at moving to the Bay Area, but will likely be living in SF, and I am trying to decide how much I would limit my options if I focused my search on SF offices of firms that serve tech clients, especially in the emerging companies space (although I wouldn't mind some late stage or public company work as well). I am a junior associate.

OP, feel free to PM me for questions here.

[Anonymous User]

This is the OP. Any insight on WSGR, Orrick, Goodwin, and MoFo would be very helpful. Especially whether any of them are doing meaningful VC/EC would out of their SF office. Several of these firms have partners who are listed in both their SV and SF office, and so it is hard to tell how much work there would be for an associate in the SF office. I am also interested in the availability of general corporate work for both late stage and public tech companies in these offices + Cooley and Fenwick in SF.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry, this is OP. One more question in case anyone knows the answer. Does WSGR run the LAUNCH program out of its SF office too, or just its SV office? It's difficult for me to tell whether there are any junior attorneys hired for the SF office who participate in the 2-year rotation program. Thanks.

[showusyourtorts]

OP -- PM me!

[Anonymous User]

OP -- PM me!

Done!

[BurnYourLifeDown]

PM if you want info re: Goodwin.