Lateraling to Midlaw - future exit options?
Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2023 9:23 pm
(Please don't quote)
Hi all. I received an offer to join a mid-size law firm. I've worked at two biglaw firms - the first of which is a V5, where I summered and then worked for as an associate for just over 3 years, and I was laid off from the second firm (which is forcing my hand here). I did M&A at both biglaw firms, and my practice at the midlaw firm would be primarily M&A and a little bit of general corporate work for company clients. From what I can gather, the midlaw firm is not very well known in my large market (but decently respected by the people who have heard of it). They tend to work on much smaller deals, so I'm not super surprised that not too many people in my network have heard of it. My eventual goal is to go in-house after another year or two, preferably to a larger, stable public company (I will not be doing any pubco work at the midlaw firm).
My question is, how much of a hit do I take for in-house exit options by going to the mid-sized firm after having some solid biglaw experience? Another wrinkle is that I would ideally like to move to another market as my next step, where the midlaw firm's name carries zero weight. I'm sure I can play the experience off in future interviews as wanting to expand my M&A/general corporate experience to better prep for an in-house move, but I'm worried about getting interviews in the first place coming from an unheard-of firm. Thanks so much guys.
Hi all. I received an offer to join a mid-size law firm. I've worked at two biglaw firms - the first of which is a V5, where I summered and then worked for as an associate for just over 3 years, and I was laid off from the second firm (which is forcing my hand here). I did M&A at both biglaw firms, and my practice at the midlaw firm would be primarily M&A and a little bit of general corporate work for company clients. From what I can gather, the midlaw firm is not very well known in my large market (but decently respected by the people who have heard of it). They tend to work on much smaller deals, so I'm not super surprised that not too many people in my network have heard of it. My eventual goal is to go in-house after another year or two, preferably to a larger, stable public company (I will not be doing any pubco work at the midlaw firm).
My question is, how much of a hit do I take for in-house exit options by going to the mid-sized firm after having some solid biglaw experience? Another wrinkle is that I would ideally like to move to another market as my next step, where the midlaw firm's name carries zero weight. I'm sure I can play the experience off in future interviews as wanting to expand my M&A/general corporate experience to better prep for an in-house move, but I'm worried about getting interviews in the first place coming from an unheard-of firm. Thanks so much guys.