Seamless Budgets Forum

[MJK1996]

Might be a ridiculous question, but what is the average seamless budget for dinner? I’ve heard DPW is only $25, but does anyone have info on Skadden, Simpson, Latham, and/or Weil?

[Anonymous User]

I usually try to stick to around $35 but know of other folks at Latham going as high as $50. Latham doesn't have a formal policy / fixed number, only saying the amount should be "reasonable".

[Anonymous User]

Skadden has been at 45 for a while.

[Anonymous User]

Weil is $35

[Anonymous User]

Deb is also $35.

[Anonymous User]

S&C is $45

[Anonymous User]

How about Simpson?

[Anonymous User]

How about Simpson?

STB is $35

[Big Red]

Honestly more important question here is when is it socially acceptable to put in the order.

[jotarokujo]

Honestly more important question here is when is it socially acceptable to put in the order.

i feel like 6 is fine? for a stay after 8:00pm requirement. curious what others think, i like to eat kind of early

[junaman]

Any time is fine if you're staying past the cut-off. No client is questioning a meal that is worth 2.7 minutes of your billable time.

[Anonymous User]

Any time is fine if you're staying past the cut-off. No client is questioning a meal that is worth 2.7 minutes of your billable time.

Well, maybe this is true at large corporate departments or the big Big Law firms. Speaking from some experience at a smaller (but still NYC) lit-heavy office, the firm is actually pretty stingy when it comes to Seamless (at least, some partners are). Not sure why, maybe the clients themselves are also stingy? It's not like the associates were billed out at steep discounts such that the above point about 2.7 min would not be true....

[Anonymous User]

anyone know about Ropes NY?

[Anonymous User]

Ropes is $45-50 I think.

[Anonymous User]

I work at Ropes. There is no budget - we're told to "be reasonable" and that we don't need to provide a receipt unless it's over $75.

[Anonymous User]

How about Kirkland?

[unlicensedpotato]

How about Kirkland?

Let's see Paul Allen's card...

[Anonymous User]

Is there any talk of DPW raising the $25 budget? In NYC that seems like basically just fast food or cheaper stuff,

[Anonymous User]

At Ropes there's no limit, and I usually spend about $50. I also get an above market bonus. But the DPW bros get prestige, and you can't quantify that.

[eastcoast_iub]

Kirkland is $40.

More importantly, someone tell me what is the highest reimbursement amount someone has submitted at Latham and been approved for under the no limit policy.

[Anonymous User]

Kirkland is $40.

More importantly, someone tell me what is the highest reimbursement amount someone has submitted at Latham and been approved for under the no limit policy.

I heard a story about somebody submitting a ~$90 meal. The partner talked with them about it, but it was ultimately reimbursed.

[Anonymous User]

Is there any talk of DPW raising the $25 budget? In NYC that seems like basically just fast food or cheaper stuff,

I think it might be largely unenforced. I'm pushing $40-50 usually, I'll let you know if I get called out for it

[Anonymous User]

No limit at PW. They suggest $50 as "reasonable." Same budget applies for ordering dinner if you WFH and bill 10+ hours in a day.

[Anonymous User]

Is there any talk of DPW raising the $25 budget? In NYC that seems like basically just fast food or cheaper stuff,

Just lol at $25 budget, with >$6M PPEP

[Anonymous User]

Kirkland is $40.

More importantly, someone tell me what is the highest reimbursement amount someone has submitted at Latham and been approved for under the no limit policy.

There's a notorious story about a young Latham associate who sent a meal consisting of a bottle of '61 Latour and a 30 oz. tin of beluga caviar for reimbursement for $7,000. The partnership upon hearing of the expense immediately contacted him to inform him that he was being promoted to equity. He's led one of their core litigation groups ever since.