Departing Partners Forum

[Anonymous User]

Do most associates when given this opportunity make this jump?

I don't know how anyone would ever quantify this. Anecdotally I've said no twice (once to a defection to Latham, another to a defection to a well regarded boutique). I didn't leave because I have a good reputation at my firm (hence why they wanted me to come with them), and didn't want to risk having to build that again elsewhere.

How long after they left were you approached by those partners?

[Anonymous User]

Bump

[existentialcrisis]

Do most associates when given this opportunity make this jump?

I don't know how anyone would ever quantify this. Anecdotally I've said no twice (once to a defection to Latham, another to a defection to a well regarded boutique). I didn't leave because I have a good reputation at my firm (hence why they wanted me to come with them), and didn't want to risk having to build that again elsewhere.

How long after they left were you approached by those partners?

It depends. I've seen people be asked before the partner leaves or after. I think sometimes partners sign something that says they won't actively try to poach associates for X period.

That being said, if you have a good enough relationship with a departing partner such that you think this is a real possibility, you should just ask them.

[Anonymous User]

When this happened in my group, it was assumed that basically all of the group's work would go with the partners, so you either agree to go to the new firm, or stay and probably get laid off. The firm we were at didn't even connect with us to ask if we wanted to stay.

[Anonymous User]

When this happened in my group, it was assumed that basically all of the group's work would go with the partners, so you either agree to go to the new firm, or stay and probably get laid off. The firm we were at didn't even connect with us to ask if we wanted to stay.

Yeah, had this happen to a couple friends. One friend didn't follow his group when they left and his work dried up and was shown the door 6 months later. Another friend who didn't necessarily need to follow (cause they had other work), but did follow and is now guaranteed to make partner this year whereas they would likely not have at their old firm. Not saying it is always the right answer, but more often than not it probably is good to follow the partners (especially if they are responsible for most of your work).

[Anonymous User]

Deleted