Top Law Schools

.

I think you would be making a big mistake picking White& Case over STB unless you REALLY think you'd be significantly happier at White & Case

I would not pick W&C over STB unless I were really interested in international arbitration or another of W&C's core strengths. This is a no-brainer unless I thought the STB people I would be working with were overtly hostile and conniving.

based on stories from friends I would guess that your life will be at least slightly harder/more brutal workwise at STB, but if you know you want corporate you should probably start there unless you truly couldn't stand the people

If you are looking for corporate, STB here. W&C corporate is significantly weaker than other V10s in NYC. The gap between the two are pretty significant for corporate.

White and Case only makes sense if you're looking to get into project finance.

M&A - STB>W&C
Cap Markets - STB> W&C
Banking - STB> W&C
Real Estate - STB > W&C
Project Finance - W&C > sTB

STB seems like the obvious choice, unless, like mentioned above, you are interested in international regulatory or arbitration work. Neither of those are really "corporate" though. Of note, STB allows 2-3 rotations within corporate. I don't know what W&C does.

FYI: STB has been involved in a couple of SPAC transactions, but they are not one of the top firms in terms of SPAC volume. Some big SPAC players include Skadden, DPW, Kirkland. (Maybe even W&C probably outnumbers STB in SPACs.) There are also a couple of busy boutiques in this area, like Ellenoff Grossman & Schole.

Lawdup wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:07 pm

FYI: STB has been involved in a couple of SPAC transactions, but they are not one of the top firms in terms of SPAC volume. Some big SPAC players include Skadden, DPW, Kirkland. (Maybe even W&C probably outnumbers STB in SPACs.) There are also a couple of busy boutiques in this area, like Ellenoff Grossman & Schole.

How do you keep track of something like that?

Lawdup wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:07 pm

STB seems like the obvious choice, unless, like mentioned above, you are interested in international regulatory or arbitration work. Neither of those are really "corporate" though. Of note, STB allows 2-3 rotations within corporate. I don't know what W&C does.

FYI: STB has been involved in a couple of SPAC transactions, but they are not one of the top firms in terms of SPAC volume. Some big SPAC players include Skadden, DPW, Kirkland. (Maybe even W&C probably outnumbers STB in SPACs.) There are also a couple of busy boutiques in this area, like Ellenoff Grossman & Schole.

OP here. I guess my specific SPAC example was not telling, but I meant to ask if it's a generally safe bet that I'd receive assignments covering more novel legal issues in one of STB's rather than W&C's corporate practices given their relative strength(?).

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:09 pm

Lawdup wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:07 pm

FYI: STB has been involved in a couple of SPAC transactions, but they are not one of the top firms in terms of SPAC volume. Some big SPAC players include Skadden, DPW, Kirkland. (Maybe even W&C probably outnumbers STB in SPACs.) There are also a couple of busy boutiques in this area, like Ellenoff Grossman & Schole.

How do you keep track of something like that?

There are SPAC league tables, and end of year tallies. Sources like Bloomberg Law, and others.

I’ve heard from friends that White & Case is kind of sweat shoppy.

Also, as everyone has mentioned, STB is significantly better for corporate work.

I don’t think the choice should be close at all. It’s not like you’re choosing between some well-know lifestyle firm and STB. You’re choosing between a “worse” corporate firm with crazy hours and STB.

White & Case is a good firm, and if that were your only offer, then picking it would be fine. But don’t turn down STB for White & Case unless you have a legitimate reason other than possibly working internationally after 3 years for why you want White & Case. Realistically, you won’t even be at the firm you start at by that point.