Ropes & Gray (NY) Forum

[Anonymous User]

I've been eyeing Ropes & Gray for a while now, particularly since I've only heard extremely positive things about their culture (which is very important to me). I'm interested in M&A (strategic, public transactions) and wondering whether anyone has any intel on Ropes' practice in New York? Based on their website / announced transactions, it seems like they focus a lot more on private-equity and only have 3 or so partners that actually do strategic M&A in New York. Curious to hear more about the type of work there, average hours, ability to cross-collaborate across offices, etc. Would I be dumb to consider corporate at Ropes over say, Cleary, which has more of a sweat-shoppy reputation (which I'm not interested in and I'd like to leave biglaw by year six).

[Anonymous User]

Cleary's a sweatshop?

[Anonymous User]

Cleary's a sweatshop?

[Anonymous User]

Cleary's a sweatshop?

all of the major ny firms are

[Anonymous User]

I've been eyeing Ropes & Gray for a while now, particularly since I've only heard extremely positive things about their culture (which is very important to me). I'm interested in M&A (strategic, public transactions) and wondering whether anyone has any intel on Ropes' practice in New York? Based on their website / announced transactions, it seems like they focus a lot more on private-equity and only have 3 or so partners that actually do strategic M&A in New York. Curious to hear more about the type of work there, average hours, ability to cross-collaborate across offices, etc. Would I be dumb to consider corporate at Ropes over say, Cleary, which has more of a sweat-shoppy reputation (which I'm not interested in and I'd like to leave biglaw by year six).

Anecdotal, but I can't say any of my friends at Ropes have better hours than my Cleary friends. They seem to work the same amount.

[Anonymous User]

Cleary's a sweatshop?

all of the major ny firms are

Yes, but some firms will have partners who are jerks about it. Cleary doesn't have a rep for this (although I'm sure there's at least a handful of partners who are). Cleary is obv the choice here w.r.t M&A and other corp work in general. Choosing Ropes over Cleary because of a misinformed view of both firms' cultures makes me wince.

[Anonymous User]

Cleary's a sweatshop?

all of the major ny firms are

Yes, but some firms will have partners who are jerks about it. Cleary doesn't have a rep for this (although I'm sure there's at least a handful of partners who are). Cleary is obv the choice here w.r.t M&A and other corp work in general. Choosing Ropes over Cleary because of a misinformed view of both firms' cultures makes me wince.

same anon above. agreed, I would also pick cleary over ropes

[Anonymous User]

I was a Ropes NY mid/sr associate and as much as I enjoyed my colleagues and work there, I agree that you should probably take Cleary for now. I had a lot of friends at Cleary and some hated it and some were okay with it, it is probably the safer bet unless you have more specific reasons for wanting Ropes over Cleary.