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Mid-level at one of BB/VE/LW in Houston. Corporate generalist, with a good mix of public and private M&A, PE M&A and capital markets of all varieties. Predictably 100% miserable.

I like this job (client interactions, deals they care about, the rules and processes, negotiations, organization, diversity of deal types, etc.) except for the absolute soul-crushing VOLUME of work. I'm well past the bonus threshold for this year, and will be close to 3k hours for the year. People are miserable in my office, so I'm not alone or an anomaly. I recognize lots of shops are very busy, and lots of folks are unhappy.

Is there a firm in Houston that isn't so crushing? I don't mind a pay cut and am not a prestige-chaser but do need to stay in Houston. I also don't mind working hard, but this pace isn't outside the norm for my entire time at this firm. I don't need advice on "saying no" to deals or anything like that. The firm-specific issues go beyond volume of work and into supervisor, partner involvement, hiring practices, etc.

I'd like to continue as a firm lawyer and make a run at partner. I think I have a chance at my current firm, but don't want to be miserable.

Mostly joking, but in the alternative, does anyone know what KE Houston is paying for mid-level corporate laterals? If I'm going to work like this, I might as well (1) get a $ign-on bonus and (2) get some better bonuses.

I know someone who just went to Kirkland Houston and got a $300k signing bonus plus guaranteed year-end bonus equal to Kirkland's max (not prorated).

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 27, 2021 4:44 pm

I know someone who just went to Kirkland Houston and got a $300k signing bonus plus guaranteed year-end bonus equal to Kirkland's max (not prorated).

I hate being a mercenary, but I don't do it for free... Any idea what class year they were, and any special characteristics that might make their outcome unique?

Sidley. Partners are happy if you hit bonus threshold (2000/yr).

Sorry, I'd rather not get into additional specifics. But you're right in the sweet spot for Kirkland lateral hiring, so why not reach out to someone you know and get the ball rolling? They are moving fast right now...

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 27, 2021 6:49 pm

Sorry, I'd rather not get into additional specifics. But you're right in the sweet spot for Kirkland lateral hiring, so why not reach out to someone you know and get the ball rolling? They are moving fast right now...

Thanks. I am not necessarily looking to do a 2 year misery tour at KE (though the cash is very tempting).

To the original topic: Does anyone know of a decent quality of life firm in Houston doing general corporate/M&A work? Pay cut is OK (though obv. not ideal), and goal is to have a nice, long and sustainable career as a law firm attorney.

I worked at Norton Rose Fulbright previously. They have a small corporate team in Houston that is collegial, does big deals from time to time, and the firm generally is known for being a "lifestyle" place (although not very financially secure). Pre-COVID, few people billed much in excess of 2000.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 27, 2021 7:50 pm

I worked at Norton Rose Fulbright previously. They have a small corporate team in Houston that is collegial, does big deals from time to time, and the firm generally is known for being a "lifestyle" place (although not very financially secure). Pre-COVID, few people billed much in excess of 2000.

Thanks! I hadn't considered NRF.

Does anyone know anything about Munsch Hardt (besides the name being challenging), Porter Hedges or Gray Reed?

I did hear good things about NRF, but I also heard that Winston's corp/M&A is smaller and collegial, too (they added some partners from V&E and T&K). Anyone know if that's true?