Munsch Hardt / Porter Hedges? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Was wondering if anyone had any insight/experience with either Munsch Hardt or Porter Hedges? Mid-level associate from North East moving back home for family reasons.

[Anonymous User]

I was at Munsch before lateraling. Any questions in particular?

Easy 1850 hour requirement, and they mean it. No expectations or requirements to go higher (unless you want to push your bonus higher). You can make partner by hitting 1850 every year. They have a nice position in the middle market, which gives them plenty of work but means your billing rate and thus salary will be lower. I was told they're moving to 170 (before NY 205 announcements), but they're super compressed when it comes to raises. I think it's the perfect balance if you prefer quality of life over maximizing income.

[Anonymous User]

I was at Munsch before lateraling. Any questions in particular?

Easy 1850 hour requirement, and they mean it. No expectations or requirements to go higher (unless you want to push your bonus higher). You can make partner by hitting 1850 every year. They have a nice position in the middle market, which gives them plenty of work but means your billing rate and thus salary will be lower. I was told they're moving to 170 (before NY 205 announcements), but they're super compressed when it comes to raises. I think it's the perfect balance if you prefer quality of life over maximizing income.

Thanks for posting. Not the OP, but also interested in Munsch Hardt.

1. How is their lit doing? Is there plenty of business?
2. How "realistic" is making partner? Is it like biglaw (almost impossible) or much better?
3. Do you have any insights about the Dallas office specifically? Culture?

[Anonymous User]

I was at Munsch before lateraling. Any questions in particular?

Easy 1850 hour requirement, and they mean it. No expectations or requirements to go higher (unless you want to push your bonus higher). You can make partner by hitting 1850 every year. They have a nice position in the middle market, which gives them plenty of work but means your billing rate and thus salary will be lower. I was told they're moving to 170 (before NY 205 announcements), but they're super compressed when it comes to raises. I think it's the perfect balance if you prefer quality of life over maximizing income.

Thanks for posting. Not the OP, but also interested in Munsch Hardt.

1. How is their lit doing? Is there plenty of business?
2. How "realistic" is making partner? Is it like biglaw (almost impossible) or much better?
3. Do you have any insights about the Dallas office specifically? Culture?

1. Not really sure how their lit is doing. I know it's doing well, but their bread and butter is real estate. There's plenty of business to keep you busy and meet your hours though. I think it's easier for them to get work due to their position in the market and lower billing rates.

2. Making non-equity partner is easy. I'm pretty sure practically everyone makes it. Making equity I'm not 100% sure on, but it's going to be immensely easier than biglaw. I never saw anyone leave as a non-equity partner because they weren't making partner. I'm pretty sure if you want to become a partner and meet the easy requirements, you will.

3. I'm not good at describing culture. It seems like a bunch of ordinary people to me. Nobody ever screamed or yelled, and everyone was nice. If anything, the culture isn't a bunch of try hards pushing each other for absolute excellence and success, so if you're looking for that, Munsch is the wrong firm. Lots of people go home early, and very few people ever work on weekends.

[Anonymous User]

I was at Munsch before lateraling. Any questions in particular?

Easy 1850 hour requirement, and they mean it. No expectations or requirements to go higher (unless you want to push your bonus higher). You can make partner by hitting 1850 every year. They have a nice position in the middle market, which gives them plenty of work but means your billing rate and thus salary will be lower. I was told they're moving to 170 (before NY 205 announcements), but they're super compressed when it comes to raises. I think it's the perfect balance if you prefer quality of life over maximizing income.

Thanks for posting. Not the OP, but also interested in Munsch Hardt.

1. How is their lit doing? Is there plenty of business?
2. How "realistic" is making partner? Is it like biglaw (almost impossible) or much better?
3. Do you have any insights about the Dallas office specifically? Culture?

1. Not really sure how their lit is doing. I know it's doing well, but their bread and butter is real estate. There's plenty of business to keep you busy and meet your hours though. I think it's easier for them to get work due to their position in the market and lower billing rates.

2. Making non-equity partner is easy. I'm pretty sure practically everyone makes it. Making equity I'm not 100% sure on, but it's going to be immensely easier than biglaw. I never saw anyone leave as a non-equity partner because they weren't making partner. I'm pretty sure if you want to become a partner and meet the easy requirements, you will.

3. I'm not good at describing culture. It seems like a bunch of ordinary people to me. Nobody ever screamed or yelled, and everyone was nice. If anything, the culture isn't a bunch of try hards pushing each other for absolute excellence and success, so if you're looking for that, Munsch is the wrong firm. Lots of people go home early, and very few people ever work on weekends.

Great info, thanks.

[Anonymous User]

I was at Munsch before lateraling. Any questions in particular?

Easy 1850 hour requirement, and they mean it. No expectations or requirements to go higher (unless you want to push your bonus higher). You can make partner by hitting 1850 every year. They have a nice position in the middle market, which gives them plenty of work but means your billing rate and thus salary will be lower. I was told they're moving to 170 (before NY 205 announcements), but they're super compressed when it comes to raises. I think it's the perfect balance if you prefer quality of life over maximizing income.

Thanks for posting. Not the OP, but also interested in Munsch Hardt.

1. How is their lit doing? Is there plenty of business?
2. How "realistic" is making partner? Is it like biglaw (almost impossible) or much better?
3. Do you have any insights about the Dallas office specifically? Culture?

1. Not really sure how their lit is doing. I know it's doing well, but their bread and butter is real estate. There's plenty of business to keep you busy and meet your hours though. I think it's easier for them to get work due to their position in the market and lower billing rates.

2. Making non-equity partner is easy. I'm pretty sure practically everyone makes it. Making equity I'm not 100% sure on, but it's going to be immensely easier than biglaw. I never saw anyone leave as a non-equity partner because they weren't making partner. I'm pretty sure if you want to become a partner and meet the easy requirements, you will.

3. I'm not good at describing culture. It seems like a bunch of ordinary people to me. Nobody ever screamed or yelled, and everyone was nice. If anything, the culture isn't a bunch of try hards pushing each other for absolute excellence and success, so if you're looking for that, Munsch is the wrong firm. Lots of people go home early, and very few people ever work on weekends.

Great info, thanks. If you don't mind me asking, why did you choose to lateral?

[Anonymous User]

delete

[Anonymous User]

I was at Munsch before lateraling. Any questions in particular?

Easy 1850 hour requirement, and they mean it. No expectations or requirements to go higher (unless you want to push your bonus higher). You can make partner by hitting 1850 every year. They have a nice position in the middle market, which gives them plenty of work but means your billing rate and thus salary will be lower. I was told they're moving to 170 (before NY 205 announcements), but they're super compressed when it comes to raises. I think it's the perfect balance if you prefer quality of life over maximizing income.

Thanks for posting. Not the OP, but also interested in Munsch Hardt.

1. How is their lit doing? Is there plenty of business?
2. How "realistic" is making partner? Is it like biglaw (almost impossible) or much better?
3. Do you have any insights about the Dallas office specifically? Culture?

1. Not really sure how their lit is doing. I know it's doing well, but their bread and butter is real estate. There's plenty of business to keep you busy and meet your hours though. I think it's easier for them to get work due to their position in the market and lower billing rates.

2. Making non-equity partner is easy. I'm pretty sure practically everyone makes it. Making equity I'm not 100% sure on, but it's going to be immensely easier than biglaw. I never saw anyone leave as a non-equity partner because they weren't making partner. I'm pretty sure if you want to become a partner and meet the easy requirements, you will.

3. I'm not good at describing culture. It seems like a bunch of ordinary people to me. Nobody ever screamed or yelled, and everyone was nice. If anything, the culture isn't a bunch of try hards pushing each other for absolute excellence and success, so if you're looking for that, Munsch is the wrong firm. Lots of people go home early, and very few people ever work on weekends.

Great info, thanks. If you don't mind me asking, why did you choose to lateral?

Money and because I want to work with a bunch of try hards (I am one). Getting concerns from partners that my hours are high is great for 99% of people, but not me.

[Anonymous User]

I was at Munsch before lateraling. Any questions in particular?

Easy 1850 hour requirement, and they mean it. No expectations or requirements to go higher (unless you want to push your bonus higher). You can make partner by hitting 1850 every year. They have a nice position in the middle market, which gives them plenty of work but means your billing rate and thus salary will be lower. I was told they're moving to 170 (before NY 205 announcements), but they're super compressed when it comes to raises. I think it's the perfect balance if you prefer quality of life over maximizing income.

Thanks for posting. Not the OP, but also interested in Munsch Hardt.

1. How is their lit doing? Is there plenty of business?
2. How "realistic" is making partner? Is it like biglaw (almost impossible) or much better?
3. Do you have any insights about the Dallas office specifically? Culture?

1. Not really sure how their lit is doing. I know it's doing well, but their bread and butter is real estate. There's plenty of business to keep you busy and meet your hours though. I think it's easier for them to get work due to their position in the market and lower billing rates.

2. Making non-equity partner is easy. I'm pretty sure practically everyone makes it. Making equity I'm not 100% sure on, but it's going to be immensely easier than biglaw. I never saw anyone leave as a non-equity partner because they weren't making partner. I'm pretty sure if you want to become a partner and meet the easy requirements, you will.

3. I'm not good at describing culture. It seems like a bunch of ordinary people to me. Nobody ever screamed or yelled, and everyone was nice. If anything, the culture isn't a bunch of try hards pushing each other for absolute excellence and success, so if you're looking for that, Munsch is the wrong firm. Lots of people go home early, and very few people ever work on weekends.

Great info, thanks. If you don't mind me asking, why did you choose to lateral?

Money and because I want to work with a bunch of try hards (I am one). Getting concerns from partners that my hours are high is great for 99% of people, but not me.

What kind of firm did you lateral to? Traditional biglaw?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know what the pay scale at Munsch Hardt is like, what the length to partnership is and/or what the junior partner comp there is compared to other Texas-based firms?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know what the pay scale at Munsch Hardt is like, what the length to partnership is and/or what the junior partner comp there is compared to other Texas-based firms?

170k starting this September, super compressed with black box 5-15k raises. 8 years to make non-equity, and no clue what their comp is. Guessing it's similarily black box and compressed.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks. I assume bonuses are similarly compressed too?

Sounds like you may know, given the reduced compensation for associates (and probably partners too) at Munsch compared to big law generally at the new salary scales, is the quality of life and billable hour targets worth the reduced pay or has Munsch seen some associates decamp for better pay elsewhere? Trying to figure out if they are going to be a good place going forward or if my focus should be solely on the bigger, more national shops in town.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks. I assume bonuses are similarly compressed too?

Sounds like you may know, given the reduced compensation for associates (and probably partners too) at Munsch compared to big law generally at the new salary scales, is the quality of life and billable hour targets worth the reduced pay or has Munsch seen some associates decamp for better pay elsewhere? Trying to figure out if they are going to be a good place going forward or if my focus should be solely on the bigger, more national shops in town.

Bonuses are black box so it's hard for me to say. They take a straight approach to the higher above budget you are, the more you get with no cap and no hurt feelings if you leave your peers behind. With that said, there's obviously diminishing returns since if you're willing to work 2,400+ hours, you might not want to be at Munsch in the first place. But Munsch acknowledges this and tries to make up for it in bonus and raise.

The retention at Munsch is insanely high. They want everyone to stay, and they want everyone to make partner. If they hired you, they like you. One associate left for market pay then came back a few months later. For most people, the quality of life is worth it. Very few partners work on weekends or nights, and if they do, it's a specific deal. They check out and spend time with their families. That trickles down. I was never expected to work on weekend or late nights and my mentor would reach out to me to make sure it was of my own free will when I was doing so. For most people, that's ideal. However if you're absolutely positive you want to make market and would work longer hours to do so, then this may not be what you want. I'm confident you could 9-5 Munsch and never have a problem.