Which partners at your firms are notoriously terrible to work for? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anyone in S&C lit?

I was in lit at S&C until fairly recently and can honestly say that I didn't (personally) have a negative experience with any of the partners I worked with. I have heard second-hand, though, that there are folks in the LA office you want to avoid.

I've heard some unpleasant things about working there, but they seemed like very specific situational type things that could happen at any firm (i.e. one super shitty associate ruining an associates life.)

I will say everyone I know who laterally from S&C was either trying to escape its ultra Type-A try hardy culture or was a super Type-A try hard. Not that they were mean or shitty people (and that Type of personality can be nice to work with on certain cases) but not the type of culture I imagine everyone loves.

[Anonymous User]

Happy to get this back on track – noticed plenty of negatives about STB M&A partners. Does this carry over into cap markets as well?

Yes, Art Robinson has screamed at juniors for the most ridiculous things. STB is generally all around awful. It’s so quiet because the associates are terrified of the partners and too busy billing to get the PPP up. Another name that is notorious is Benjamin Smith in funds - also known to scream at his mid level and juniors.

[Anonymous User]

Happy to get this back on track – noticed plenty of negatives about STB M&A partners. Does this carry over into cap markets as well?

Yes, Art Robinson has screamed at juniors for the most ridiculous things. STB is generally all around awful. It’s so quiet because the associates are terrified of the partners and too busy billing to get the PPP up. Another name that is notorious is Benjamin Smith in funds - also known to scream at his mid level and juniors.

How is STB in their satellite offices? LA and Palo Alto?

[Anonymous User]

Happy to get this back on track – noticed plenty of negatives about STB M&A partners. Does this carry over into cap markets as well?

Yes, Art Robinson has screamed at juniors for the most ridiculous things. STB is generally all around awful. It’s so quiet because the associates are terrified of the partners and too busy billing to get the PPP up. Another name that is notorious is Benjamin Smith in funds - also known to scream at his mid level and juniors.

How is STB in their satellite offices? LA and Palo Alto?

If you are looking for a “chill firm”, STB isn’t it. Those people in your law school classes who never spoke but got better grades than you work at STB. A very bizarre culture. Satellite offices are all packed with partners or associates from the mothership on the corporate side who got pushed out or moved for personal reasons so same vibe.

[Anonymous User]

Any intel on Latham LA?

[Anonymous User]

Happy to get this back on track – noticed plenty of negatives about STB M&A partners. Does this carry over into cap markets as well?

Yes, Art Robinson has screamed at juniors for the most ridiculous things. STB is generally all around awful. It’s so quiet because the associates are terrified of the partners and too busy billing to get the PPP up. Another name that is notorious is Benjamin Smith in funds - also known to scream at his mid level and juniors.

How is STB in their satellite offices? LA and Palo Alto?

If you are looking for a “chill firm”, STB isn’t it. Those people in your law school classes who never spoke but got better grades than you work at STB. A very bizarre culture. Satellite offices are all packed with partners or associates from the mothership on the corporate side who got pushed out or moved for personal reasons so same vibe.

Are there reps about specific partners in the STB Palo Alto office? I have interacted with a handful (Kevin, atif) but couldn’t get a read

[Anonymous User]

Happy to get this back on track – noticed plenty of negatives about STB M&A partners. Does this carry over into cap markets as well?

Yes, Art Robinson has screamed at juniors for the most ridiculous things. STB is generally all around awful. It’s so quiet because the associates are terrified of the partners and too busy billing to get the PPP up. Another name that is notorious is Benjamin Smith in funds - also known to scream at his mid level and juniors.

How is STB in their satellite offices? LA and Palo Alto?

If you are looking for a “chill firm”, STB isn’t it. Those people in your law school classes who never spoke but got better grades than you work at STB. A very bizarre culture. Satellite offices are all packed with partners or associates from the mothership on the corporate side who got pushed out or moved for personal reasons so same vibe.

Are there reps about specific partners in the STB Palo Alto office? I have interacted with a handful (Kevin, atif) but couldn’t get a read

STB Palo Alto is widely regarded as one of the worst firms in the west coast so…

[Anonymous User]

Happy to get this back on track – noticed plenty of negatives about STB M&A partners. Does this carry over into cap markets as well?

Yes, Art Robinson has screamed at juniors for the most ridiculous things. STB is generally all around awful. It’s so quiet because the associates are terrified of the partners and too busy billing to get the PPP up. Another name that is notorious is Benjamin Smith in funds - also known to scream at his mid level and juniors.

How is STB in their satellite offices? LA and Palo Alto?

If you are looking for a “chill firm”, STB isn’t it. Those people in your law school classes who never spoke but got better grades than you work at STB. A very bizarre culture. Satellite offices are all packed with partners or associates from the mothership on the corporate side who got pushed out or moved for personal reasons so same vibe.

Are there reps about specific partners in the STB Palo Alto office? I have interacted with a handful (Kevin, atif) but couldn’t get a read

Literally what was said above, they are all former New York associates or partners, so expect to get completely rocked. There is nothing to read into. Your lucky Rich Capeluto is gone.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone in S&C lit?

I was in lit at S&C until fairly recently and can honestly say that I didn't (personally) have a negative experience with any of the partners I worked with. I have heard second-hand, though, that there are folks in the LA office you want to avoid.

I've heard some unpleasant things about working there, but they seemed like very specific situational type things that could happen at any firm (i.e. one super shitty associate ruining an associates life.)

I will say everyone I know who laterally from S&C was either trying to escape its ultra Type-A try hardy culture or was a super Type-A try hard. Not that they were mean or shitty people (and that Type of personality can be nice to work with on certain cases) but not the type of culture I imagine everyone loves.

Oh, I'm definitely not saying that I thought S&C had a good culture. I felt that all the partners I worked with were fair and reasonable and seemed like decent people. No screamers. On the other hand, everyone seemed burned out, miserable, and exhausted most of the time. There was very little mentorship in my experience and I did deal with one rough senior associate (arbitrary Monday morning deadlines, etc.).

[Anonymous User]

Nicky Jatana at Jackson Lewis LA. I fortunately never worked for her, but I know at least 5 associates who left the firm mostly because of her. The many, many stories I heard about her are horrific.

[Anonymous User]

Nicky Jatana at Jackson Lewis LA. I fortunately never worked for her, but I know at least 5 associates who left the firm mostly because of her. The many, many stories I heard about her are horrific.

Heard this too

[Anonymous User]

Any dirt on White & Case Houston?

[xoxoBlairWaldorf]

Rosemarie Ring at MTO.

She just lateraled to GDC. Can you say more?

Interested in this. Can you DM?

[Anonymous User]

If anyone has insights on L&E partners in the San Francisco Bay Area, would love to hear them! (If good, would love to know too!)

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on Goodwin DC?

[Anonymous User]

Any insight on Cleary NY's M&A partners?

[Anonymous User]

Happy to get this back on track – noticed plenty of negatives about STB M&A partners. Does this carry over into cap markets as well?

Yes, Art Robinson has screamed at juniors for the most ridiculous things. STB is generally all around awful. It’s so quiet because the associates are terrified of the partners and too busy billing to get the PPP up. Another name that is notorious is Benjamin Smith in funds - also known to scream at his mid level and juniors.

How is STB in their satellite offices? LA and Palo Alto?

If you are looking for a “chill firm”, STB isn’t it. Those people in your law school classes who never spoke but got better grades than you work at STB. A very bizarre culture. Satellite offices are all packed with partners or associates from the mothership on the corporate side who got pushed out or moved for personal reasons so same vibe.

Are there reps about specific partners in the STB Palo Alto office? I have interacted with a handful (Kevin, atif) but couldn’t get a read

STB Palo Alto is widely regarded as one of the worst firms in the west coast so…

Do not go to STB PA. Worst office of any biglaw firm on the west coast hours and culture-wise.

[Anonymous User]

STB Palo Alto is widely regarded as one of the worst firms in the west coast so…

Do not go to STB PA. Worst office of any biglaw firm on the west coast hours and culture-wise.

Anybody know what the DPW NorCal office is like? Seems like a small office with nice-ish people, but I'm guessing that some of the NY sweatiness rubs off on their CA office?

[Anonymous User]

Happy to get this back on track – noticed plenty of negatives about STB M&A partners. Does this carry over into cap markets as well?

Yes, Art Robinson has screamed at juniors for the most ridiculous things. STB is generally all around awful. It’s so quiet because the associates are terrified of the partners and too busy billing to get the PPP up. Another name that is notorious is Benjamin Smith in funds - also known to scream at his mid level and juniors.

How is STB in their satellite offices? LA and Palo Alto?

If you are looking for a “chill firm”, STB isn’t it. Those people in your law school classes who never spoke but got better grades than you work at STB. A very bizarre culture. Satellite offices are all packed with partners or associates from the mothership on the corporate side who got pushed out or moved for personal reasons so same vibe.

Are there reps about specific partners in the STB Palo Alto office? I have interacted with a handful (Kevin, atif) but couldn’t get a read

STB Palo Alto is widely regarded as one of the worst firms in the west coast so…

Do not go to STB PA. Worst office of any biglaw firm on the west coast hours and culture-wise.

Robots working with Robots on NYT. Don’t be surprised when your blown up between 4-7 AM daily because NYC STB is up firing on all cylinders

[Anonymous User]

Anyone in S&C lit?

I was in lit at S&C until fairly recently and can honestly say that I didn't (personally) have a negative experience with any of the partners I worked with. I have heard second-hand, though, that there are folks in the LA office you want to avoid.

I've heard some unpleasant things about working there, but they seemed like very specific situational type things that could happen at any firm (i.e. one super shitty associate ruining an associates life.)

I will say everyone I know who laterally from S&C was either trying to escape its ultra Type-A try hardy culture or was a super Type-A try hard. Not that they were mean or shitty people (and that Type of personality can be nice to work with on certain cases) but not the type of culture I imagine everyone loves.

Oh, I'm definitely not saying that I thought S&C had a good culture. I felt that all the partners I worked with were fair and reasonable and seemed like decent people. No screamers. On the other hand, everyone seemed burned out, miserable, and exhausted most of the time. There was very little mentorship in my experience and I did deal with one rough senior associate (arbitrary Monday morning deadlines, etc.).

That's roughly the vibe I got from my summer; conversely, any partners who you would recommend trying to work with?

[Anonymous User]

Happy to get this back on track – noticed plenty of negatives about STB M&A partners. Does this carry over into cap markets as well?

Yes, Art Robinson has screamed at juniors for the most ridiculous things. STB is generally all around awful. It’s so quiet because the associates are terrified of the partners and too busy billing to get the PPP up. Another name that is notorious is Benjamin Smith in funds - also known to scream at his mid level and juniors.

How is STB in their satellite offices? LA and Palo Alto?

If you are looking for a “chill firm”, STB isn’t it. Those people in your law school classes who never spoke but got better grades than you work at STB. A very bizarre culture. Satellite offices are all packed with partners or associates from the mothership on the corporate side who got pushed out or moved for personal reasons so same vibe.

Former associate at STB satellite here: can confirm this, 100%. This was actually a perfect description. My satellite was loaded with departures from the mothership. Most bizarre, unpleasant culture you could imagine. There are a few good people but it was disheartening how hard they were to come by.

Whatever the opposite of "chill" is...that's STB.

[Anonymous User]

What about non share partners who just became non share partners but pretend to be equity partners? Thinking of you “Chris” christopher burwell.

[Anonymous User]

Happy to get this back on track – noticed plenty of negatives about STB M&A partners. Does this carry over into cap markets as well?

Yes, Art Robinson has screamed at juniors for the most ridiculous things. STB is generally all around awful. It’s so quiet because the associates are terrified of the partners and too busy billing to get the PPP up. Another name that is notorious is Benjamin Smith in funds - also known to scream at his mid level and juniors.

How is STB in their satellite offices? LA and Palo Alto?

If you are looking for a “chill firm”, STB isn’t it. Those people in your law school classes who never spoke but got better grades than you work at STB. A very bizarre culture. Satellite offices are all packed with partners or associates from the mothership on the corporate side who got pushed out or moved for personal reasons so same vibe.

Former associate at STB satellite here: can confirm this, 100%. This was actually a perfect description. My satellite was loaded with departures from the mothership. Most bizarre, unpleasant culture you could imagine. There are a few good people but it was disheartening how hard they were to come by.

Whatever the opposite of "chill" is...that's STB.

One of the funnier dynamics at the mothership is how resentful other offices are of the mothership. It’s like they hate NYC for giving them deals to do. Miserable place to work with uniquely out of touch and terrible people. Dick Beattie is a legend however. No amount of weirdo all lower case partner emails can change that.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone got dirt on Wilson sonsini, West coast?

[Anonymous User]

Happy to get this back on track – noticed plenty of negatives about STB M&A partners. Does this carry over into cap markets as well?

Yes, Art Robinson has screamed at juniors for the most ridiculous things. STB is generally all around awful. It’s so quiet because the associates are terrified of the partners and too busy billing to get the PPP up. Another name that is notorious is Benjamin Smith in funds - also known to scream at his mid level and juniors.

How is STB in their satellite offices? LA and Palo Alto?

If you are looking for a “chill firm”, STB isn’t it. Those people in your law school classes who never spoke but got better grades than you work at STB. A very bizarre culture. Satellite offices are all packed with partners or associates from the mothership on the corporate side who got pushed out or moved for personal reasons so same vibe.

Former associate at STB satellite here: can confirm this, 100%. This was actually a perfect description. My satellite was loaded with departures from the mothership. Most bizarre, unpleasant culture you could imagine. There are a few good people but it was disheartening how hard they were to come by.

Whatever the opposite of "chill" is...that's STB.

One of the funnier dynamics at the mothership is how resentful other offices are of the mothership. It’s like they hate NYC for giving them deals to do. Miserable place to work with uniquely out of touch and terrible people. Dick Beattie is a legend however. No amount of weirdo all lower case partner emails can change that.

I assume the lower case letter partner emails is a power move to let associates know where they stand (i.e., not worth the effort of changing phone to upper case), but maybe I am looking at it the wrong way?