Arnold Porter NY/DC Forum

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know about AP’s reputation in nyc? I really like them, and am considering accepting an offer. Any info appreciated, specifically for litigation. Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

They screwed over all of their associates at bonus season, screwed over their summer associates the past summer, and everyone I know working for them is furious.

[Anonymous User]

NY seems to be appreciate work-life balance more than DC but still has similar work, just less gov related in NY.

[Anonymous User]

I’ve heard great things about A&P ny. Great connects to DOJ/govt work, good work environment. Similar vibe to akin gump

[Anonymous User]

A&P Associate. Love the people I work with. Hate the way the firm is managed (complete lack of transparency with bonus situation, management did not even address it). I wish my group could just become a boutique and we could separate from management’s nonsense.

[Anonymous User]

A&P Associate. Love the people I work with. Hate the way the firm is managed (complete lack of transparency with bonus situation, management did not even address it). I wish my group could just become a boutique and we could separate from management’s nonsense.

For someone interested in NY lit (and not wanting the atmosphere of a v5-10, and liking the DC vibe), would you recommend akin or A&P?

[Anonymous User]

My interview process for ny was probably the most pleasant compared to other firms. People genuinely nice and easy to get along with

[Anonymous User]

A&P Associate. Love the people I work with. Hate the way the firm is managed (complete lack of transparency with bonus situation, management did not even address it). I wish my group could just become a boutique and we could separate from management’s nonsense.

For someone interested in NY lit (and not wanting the atmosphere of a v5-10, and liking the DC vibe), would you recommend akin or A&P?

Anon here. I can’t speak as to Akin, but if you felt a similar vibe with Akin as to A&P and if Akin paid the supplemental bonus, I’d go there.

What really bothers me about A&P is not just that they didn’t pay the bonus, but that they didn’t even address it with associates. The firm had a town hall meeting last fall where we thought the bonus would be addressed, but the firm instead wasted out time with a 1-hour presentation about a useless alumni LinkedIn network.

Further, the firm employs a draconian time keeping policy that involves a “time score” based on the number of days an entry is submitted after the work has been completed. Bonuses are docked 5% if an associate’s score is above 3.0 for more than one month. So an associate who barely misses this threshold for two months but is well below for the year gets docked.

That happened to me this year. So not only did I not receive a market bonus or an explanation as to why, but also the firm felt the need to punish me and take more money away from me. Bad form imo.

Again, I adore the people I work with and they are the only thing that makes leaving hard. But god do I want to tell management how I really feel about the job they do.

[Anonymous User]

A&P anon. Below is a line from the 2021 compensation memo sent today. Associates who did not get bonuses but still “violated” the timekeeping policy are “penalized” with annual salary reductions. God forgive us for violating the firm with two months of 3.2 time scores!

“Deductions of up to $2,500 will be made to annual increases for associates who failed the timekeeping policy for two or more months in 2020 (excluding those associates whose violations were penalized in their 2020 bonuses).”

[Anonymous User]

A&P Associate. Love the people I work with. Hate the way the firm is managed (complete lack of transparency with bonus situation, management did not even address it). I wish my group could just become a boutique and we could separate from management’s nonsense.

100% this. The people are nice and the culture is usually positive. But management is committed to screwing over every associate. Special bonuses? Not paid or acknowledged. Incoming associates? Deferred with no stipend or health insurance. Summer associates? Program and pay cut in half. There is no transparency and constant nickel and dime-ing.

[Anonymous User]

I have friends in both the DC and NY offices, most of whom seem unhappy about the lack of transparency/general stinginess. It also seems more common than not to fall short of the hours target?

[Anonymous User]

A&P Associate. Love the people I work with. Hate the way the firm is managed (complete lack of transparency with bonus situation, management did not even address it). I wish my group could just become a boutique and we could separate from management’s nonsense.

BEFORE COVID-19, has A&P NY paid bonuses like its peer firms? Or has the firm's compensation always been a black-box?

[Anonymous User]

One of anons from above.

A&P has always paid year-end market bonuses for years juniors and mid levels.

The firm only paid roughly 1/2 of the 2018 summer bonuses. The firm kept us on the hook and said that it only pays bonuses at the end of the year. They then paid the reduced summer amount with no explanation.

Just last year, the firm switched to black box for senior associate bonuses. Seniors voiced their concern this year about the lack of transparency in that process.