Debevoise (NY) vs. Paul Weiss (NY) - valuing "culture" and good work Forum

[Anonymous User]

I wanted TLS's input before I make my decision in the next 96 hours (even though my gut is telling me I'm decided on Debevoise).

I'm corporate focused, so no litigation dreams. Practice areas I'm interested in are Funds/Investment Management, PE, Capital Markets, and maybe M&A. Ideally, I would like to land at a firm where I would enjoy my day-to-day flow more (where I'd hate life less, somewhere with the "better culture" - as cliche as this may sound).

The vast majority of classmates I have asked the Debevoise vs. Paul Weiss question to have essentially said to me to choose Paul Weiss because it's "better" or "more prestigious" ... but this isn't helping me in my decision making really. It makes me wonder whether they are going off of Vault rankings alone, which I think is delusional at best, no?

They're both good NYC firms, so it's difficult to choose which is "better" here. Although I have my gut feeling (along with practice-strength reasons) pulling me in the direction of Debevoise, I would like to hear what others think about my choices. Thank you!

[Anonymous User]

If you want to be doing elite Funds Formation/Investment Management work for PE clients in NYC, then you should go to Deb, STB or K&E.

If both your gut says Deb and your practice group preference is Funds Formation, then go to Deb.

[Wild Card]

I've worked with a lot of boomers and gen Xers who speak very highly of Debevoise.

It seems like a place where you could do high profile work alongside leaders in the law, and last for a long time. Culture seems great.

I wish I could work there.

Paul Weiss attracts many top of the class types, but IDK what's great about it besides that.

EDIT: I just saw that you're not interested in litgation lol. Disregard what I wrote.

[Anonymous User]

Two things to add - first, kudos for ignoring your classmates' blind loyalty to a national survey they will find out is mostly meaningless in a few years. PW's "prestige" comes from a litigation/pro bono reputation that is irrelevant for you. Besides, within the NY scene my sense is that these firms are both generally thought of in the same top echelon. More specifically on the corporate front for your interests, Deb and PW are in the same chambers bands for M&A, PE M&A (chambers reads: PE buyouts), and Cap Markets issuer counsel. But especially since you said funds - Deb is Band 1 with Kirkland and STB, as part of the main private funds triad - so if this actually is your prime interest, you can carry a printout of the chambers rankings to wave at your classmates when you feel insecure about the musings of a classmate who hasn't spent a day as an associate anywhere.

Second, your gut feeling is worth more than anecdotes from an anonymous TLSer, but your comments on "culture" scream Debevoise to me since a good friend is there (finance) and says he's happy. Or maybe he's just a happy person. Maybe there's not a difference. But two good choices here.

[Anonymous User]

OP in 5 years when on the other side of a screener:

"So OP, why did you pick Debevoise?"
Funds, lockstep, culture, gut feeling, PE driven....

"So OP, why did you pick PW?"
Well it was ranked .33 points higher on the Vault NY page so it's a better firm.

[Anonymous User]

Hey OP, for what it's worth this cycle I got a Debevoise offer, and then decided to cancel an upcoming callback at Paul Weiss without further considering them and accept Deb. I had some similar thoughts to you (I'm interested in lit, thus preftige), but the bottom line was that I was getting a slightly shaky vibe at PW or from what people I knew told me about them, whereas I met like 10 people at Deb and they all seemed great. I know it's not quite the same as your situation because it's not like I had a PW offer and rejected them, but I decided to just walk away from the callback and not pursue PW further because I knew Deb was where I wanted to go. So I would say I sort went with my gut in a similar (if not identical) position to you and now I feel satisfied with that choice.

I'm gonna stop anonymously shilling for this corporate law firm on the Internet now, just sharing my experience

[Anonymous User]

I work at Debevoise. We like it here. Culture's not perfect and I feel at times it is overhyped, but I get the sense it is still better than at a lot of other firms. I genuinely like most of the people I work with (on a personal level, not just work level, although the latter is good too). Vault is dumb and it does not affect my life (or will it affect your life as an associate) whatsoever. It's a bummer that law students place so much stock into it, but it is what it is.

[Anonymous User]

I work at Debevoise. Culture is nice, but the quality of deals we get in certain groups (like M&A, finance, cap markets) is going down. Certain rainmaker senior partners are up for retirement soon - unclear whether their client base will stay at the firm. Several public company clients have taken their business elsewhere, so the work tends to be even more skewed towards PE. Some new PE clients tend to be mid-market firms that are cost-conscious. I would recommend starting at Paul Weiss for M&A/ finance / cap markets. If IMG/funds is your primary interest, Debevoise has a fantastic team.