How is Paul Weiss's corporate group (NYC)? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I know Paul, Weiss is primarily known for lit, but hows their corporate group (say in comparison to Cleary/Weil)?

[Anonymous User]

I have been opposite them but am not on the inside there.

It's been my impression that PW has been a historically litigation-first firm that has been getting more active on the corporate side due to some very high-profile laterals over the years - e.g., poaching some partners from O'Melveny years ago (which led to PW gaining Apollo as a PE client) and Scott Barshay from Cravath (one of the most preeminent public company M&A lawyers in the country).

As a result, I would say their reputation is still very much "up-and-coming" on the transactional side, with most of their high-profile business coming specifically from Barshay or Apollo. Likewise, when I interviewed there 5-7 years ago as a summer associate candidate, the partner who gave me an offer tried to provide a similar spin (i.e., come work with us and join a scrappy, up-and-coming corporate group). It's also been my impression that the group has been very lean for years and has been aggressively trying to hire up laterals for an extended period of time. Work/life balance is definitely on the rougher side.

In a world where white shoe prestige and "historical" client bases is given lots of weight, PW isn't always treated in the same world of prestige compared to Cravath, STB, DPW, Skadden, SullCrom, etc. But if you head there, I'm sure there will be plenty of work to go around.

[Anonymous User]

There'll be plenty of work, and they're good lawyers. They were historically PE-driven but Barshay has been changing that.

The caveat's that Apollo is notoriously unpleasant to work with, as is Barshay.

[Anonymous User]

If you include restructuring as a part of corporate, Paul Weiss (alongside Davis Polk, and maybe 1-2 others) is the preeminent creditor-focused group. Even there, however, the group relies more on laterals than some of its peers.

[Anonymous User]

[duplicate]

[Anonymous User]

Agree with the posts above—I hear that Barshay is really tough to work for (not from those directly under him but from PW lit associates) but def a lot of work to go around.

[Anonymous User]

Anon because don't want to get traced. I know a couple 2nd/3rd year associates and partners who love working in PW corporate, have plenty of work, and get interesting deals. Especially with SB on the M&A side but also PW's pretty strong Private Equity connections. Every firm (DPW, KE, S&C, Cravath) all come to mind as having a few corporate partners notoriously difficult to work for. PW doesn't really tolerate partners demeaning associates or as crushing workloads. However, the nature of growing a corporate practice means there will be a heavier workload but that's being accounted for with new hiring. Quickly looking through recent deals and clients, PWs look as good as anywhere else.

[Anonymous User]

bump

[Anonymous User]

Anon because don't want to get traced. I know a couple 2nd/3rd year associates and partners who love working in PW corporate, have plenty of work, and get interesting deals. Especially with SB on the M&A side but also PW's pretty strong Private Equity connections. Every firm (DPW, KE, S&C, Cravath) all come to mind as having a few corporate partners notoriously difficult to work for. PW doesn't really tolerate partners demeaning associates or as crushing workloads. However, the nature of growing a corporate practice means there will be a heavier workload but that's being accounted for with new hiring. Quickly looking through recent deals and clients, PWs look as good as anywhere else.

Scott Barshay doesn't demean associates, and looks out for their time? News to me. Has he turned over a new leaf recently?

[Anonymous User]

Anon because don't want to get traced. I know a couple 2nd/3rd year associates and partners who love working in PW corporate, have plenty of work, and get interesting deals. Especially with SB on the M&A side but also PW's pretty strong Private Equity connections. Every firm (DPW, KE, S&C, Cravath) all come to mind as having a few corporate partners notoriously difficult to work for. PW doesn't really tolerate partners demeaning associates or as crushing workloads. However, the nature of growing a corporate practice means there will be a heavier workload but that's being accounted for with new hiring. Quickly looking through recent deals and clients, PWs look as good as anywhere else.

Scott Barshay doesn't demean associates, and looks out for their time? News to me. Has he turned over a new leaf recently?

I never worked with Barshay but I’ve heard a lot about him at Cravath from those who have. From what I’ve heard, associates were very happy that he left and he is just as much of a dick as his reputation suggests.

[Anonymous User]

Anon because don't want to get traced. I know a couple 2nd/3rd year associates and partners who love working in PW corporate, have plenty of work, and get interesting deals. Especially with SB on the M&A side but also PW's pretty strong Private Equity connections. Every firm (DPW, KE, S&C, Cravath) all come to mind as having a few corporate partners notoriously difficult to work for. PW doesn't really tolerate partners demeaning associates or as crushing workloads. However, the nature of growing a corporate practice means there will be a heavier workload but that's being accounted for with new hiring. Quickly looking through recent deals and clients, PWs look as good as anywhere else.

Scott Barshay doesn't demean associates, and looks out for their time? News to me. Has he turned over a new leaf recently?

I never worked with Barshay but I’ve heard a lot about him at Cravath from those who have. From what I’ve heard, associates were very happy that he left and he is just as much of a dick as his reputation suggests.

Genuine question: Is this something that offerees should seriously consider? I.e., do junior/mid-level associates actually interact with Barshay? Or is Barshay's personality indicative of PW's corporate group culture as a whole? I heard there were some partners that are collegial to work with, although I would appreciate insight from a larger sample size.

[Anonymous User]

Anon because don't want to get traced. I know a couple 2nd/3rd year associates and partners who love working in PW corporate, have plenty of work, and get interesting deals. Especially with SB on the M&A side but also PW's pretty strong Private Equity connections. Every firm (DPW, KE, S&C, Cravath) all come to mind as having a few corporate partners notoriously difficult to work for. PW doesn't really tolerate partners demeaning associates or as crushing workloads. However, the nature of growing a corporate practice means there will be a heavier workload but that's being accounted for with new hiring. Quickly looking through recent deals and clients, PWs look as good as anywhere else.

Scott Barshay doesn't demean associates, and looks out for their time? News to me. Has he turned over a new leaf recently?

I never worked with Barshay but I’ve heard a lot about him at Cravath from those who have. From what I’ve heard, associates were very happy that he left and he is just as much of a dick as his reputation suggests.

Genuine question: Is this something that offerees should seriously consider? I.e., do junior/mid-level associates actually interact with Barshay? Or is Barshay's personality indicative of PW's corporate group culture as a whole? I heard there were some partners that are collegial to work with, although I would appreciate insight from a larger sample size.

Mid-level and junior level associates don't interact with him that much, if at all. I doubt even senior associates get to work with him that much, bc associates usually work with more junior partners than actually directly with Barshay