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Can anyone comment on the culture here (personalities, hours, etc.)?

I feel like other threads people seem to say the pecking order in Houston is generally V&E > K&E > STB, but why is that the case? It seems like the deals on the attorney profiles at STB are for funds like BlackRock, KKR, etc. and plenty of 10 figure deals on people’s profiles so what is it that makes other firms in Houston better?

Legitimately just curious as I’m not overly familiar with the Houston biglaw market, but considering a move there.

Paging Simpson and Thatcher Houston. I repeat. Paging Simpson and Thatcher Houston. Houston, we got a problem. Management is tying bonuses to in office attendance.

https://abovethelaw.com/2023/05/simpson ... ttendance/

Know multiple people who started here and GTFO the first chance they got. Some tough personalities here and difficult clients.

Neff wrote: ↑

Wed May 17, 2023 7:26 pm

Know multiple people who started here and GTFO the first chance they got. Some tough personalities here and difficult clients.

Were they in the M&A group or finance/banking?

Also interested whether the personality problems are in M&A, Finance, or CapM.

I feel like other threads people seem to say the pecking order in Houston is generally V&E > K&E > STB, but why is that the case?

For STB vs. K&E, K&E Houston was founded in 2014 by the guy who previously founded STB Houston, and he gutted it of clients and talent when he left and has consistently raided it over the years. K&E has 4-5x as many lawyers in Houston, and is Chambers M&A Band 1 while STB is Band 4. Kirkland had 172 Texas deals in 2022 worth $103 billion, while STB had only 12 deals worth $18 billion.

For STB vs V&E, V&E is the old longtime champion in Texas. It is very much under threat by K&E and the rest of the outside law firms that have come in over the past decade and continue to aggressively pursue market share, but it has so far held its place among the top 3 (unlike Baker Botts and NRF). I’d say it’s more or less tied with K&E and Latham (who you failed to mention), but playing defense while K&E is on the rise and Latham stays steady. V&E is M&A Band 1 (with K&E and Latham), had 102 Texas deals in 2022 worth $76 billion, and its headcount in Houston HQ is about the same as Kirkland.

There are other firms I’d put ahead of STB as well, but those are the two you asked about.

my friend billed around 2800 each year he was there and from what he said that was typical. buyer beware.