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Don't want to give too much away by way of personal details, but I have the opportunity to join a regulatory practice area at each of the following firms. I've heard great things about the culture at Crowell, but as someone coming from a non-DC background, it's difficult to get a sense of the differences in both culture and reputation. Does anyone have any insight into why one firm would make sense over the other, or are they all pretty much on equal footing?

you need to be more specific than “regulatory” practice if you want useful advice, FYI.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 16, 2022 11:04 am

you need to be more specific than “regulatory” practice if you want useful advice, FYI.

Yeah I agree with this. If it’s antitrust for example you’d probably want Crowell or MoFo. Haven’t heard the best things about Crowell’s AT in terms of hours but it’s probably the best AT practice of the 4 you listed.

Thanks for the help so far it's already more insight than I was able to get from the recruiter helping me haha. To be a bit more specific, it would be in the realm of int trade/gov contracts/investigations.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 16, 2022 3:47 pm

Thanks for the help so far it's already more insight than I was able to get from the recruiter helping me haha. To be a bit more specific, it would be in the realm of int trade/gov contracts/investigations.

First anon who responded. Your post is confusing bc these are three totally different practice areas, and it’s generally not common for a partner who practices gov contracts to also do int’l trade. And “investigations” isn’t really a practice area; you can have investigations in any area of law.

It sounds like FCPA and SEC related practice?

Sorry was trying to stay anon but was clearly not doing a good job. In terms of categorization, I was just using the grouping on the Sheppard mullin website.

I’m mostly looking at the trade/FCPA world, but I mentioned gov contracts because at least at current firm there is sometimes overlap.

Would love to hear pretty much these firms reputations in trade esp vis-a-vis the Covington/Gibson/hogan lovells of the world

I don’t know about FCPA, but for international trade, Crowell is by far the best of the three you mentioned. However, it’s still a tier below the Covington/Gibson/Hogan Lovells.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 18, 2022 1:32 pm

I don’t know about FCPA, but for international trade, Crowell is by far the best of the three you mentioned. However, it’s still a tier below the Covington/Gibson/Hogan Lovells.

I'm also curious about these areas. Here are the basic chambers rankings.

These are USA wide rankings but the assumption is that the practices would be in DC (this would need to be verified).

Picking between Mayer and MoFo for FCPA. Only Mayer Brown is ranked in Int. Trade Remedies & Policy. Only Crowell is ranked in Export Controls & Sanctions. All are strong in Gov Contracts.

In order of: 1) FCPA; 2) Int. Trade Remedies & Policy; 3) Export Controls & Sanctions; 4) GovContracts

Crowell - ( ), ( ), 4, 1
Mayer - 5, 4, ( ), 3
MoFo - 2, ( ), ( ), 1
ShepMull - ( ), ( ), ( ), 2

Other firms for comparison.

Cov - 3, 3, 1, 1
Gibson - 1, ( ), 3, 3
Hogan - 5, 1, 2, 3

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 18, 2022 1:32 pm

I don’t know about FCPA, but for international trade, Crowell is by far the best of the three you mentioned. However, it’s still a tier below the Covington/Gibson/Hogan Lovells.

Not op but I'm thinking about the same thing now that OCI bids are coming up. I'll bid all three but what is the reputation of crowell vs akin gump vs wiley rein vs steptoe. I hear a lot of good things about crowell from recruiters and in these forums, but it seems like the people on the trade teams in Mofo/Mayer Brown/Akin come from more prestigious schools, not that that's necessarily a barometer.