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LA firms increase PPP in 2005; Gibson, Latham at $1.6m

Quinn - $1.9m (+1%) Gibson - $1.635m (+8%) O'Melveny - $1....
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
How do these figures related to associates? I know a hig...
Umber French Dilemma Hairy Legs
  02/05/06
Firms will take a small slice of PPP and give it to associat...
Blue kitchen
  02/05/06
So a high PPP benefits both partners *and* associates in ter...
Umber French Dilemma Hairy Legs
  02/05/06
Yes. Not necessarily. It could just mean the firm had a ...
Blue kitchen
  02/05/06
Interesting thing about Quinn is that while their 2004 jump ...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
ask greedy la.
Blue kitchen
  02/05/06
Or it can suggest they're leveraging the hell out of their a...
Pearly useless hunting ground corner
  02/05/06
Exactly. "Windfalls" don't happen in biglaw unless...
Heady brass idiot
  02/05/06
Well, it's hard to say that without knowing how busy the fir...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Sure, I just meant that "windfall" in biglaw means...
Heady brass idiot
  02/05/06
This is not really true.
Blue kitchen
  02/05/06
Educate me.
Heady brass idiot
  02/05/06
I was at a dinner party last night where a biglaw partner wa...
Blue kitchen
  02/05/06
I guess that settles it.
Heady brass idiot
  02/05/06
Meh, its not uncommon is all I'm saying.
Blue kitchen
  02/05/06
I just don't understand how a windfall is even theoretically...
Heady brass idiot
  02/05/06
This is just a semantic disagreement.
Sexy Very Tactful Headpube Black Woman
  02/05/06
contingency fees
Onyx aphrodisiac genital piercing
  02/05/06
Wow, somebody didn't read the thread.
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
so shoot me
Onyx aphrodisiac genital piercing
  02/05/06
This board sometimes likes to use PPP as a proxy for firm pr...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Is there a PPP ranking (for all firms, not just LA) that I c...
Umber French Dilemma Hairy Legs
  02/05/06
If you have Westlaw, look up last year's AmLaw 100 and AmLaw...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
If PPP is a proxy for prestige, why is Munger so highly rega...
Umber French Dilemma Hairy Legs
  02/05/06
This board also likes to use selectivity as a proxy for pres...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
You say that with a pejorative tone, but both are clearly th...
Blue kitchen
  02/05/06
Even somebody who's been online as long as me has trouble co...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
It was the "this board" part I guess. Sorry.
Blue kitchen
  02/05/06
I might have been criticizing the board's obsession with fir...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Some more counterexamples are Cahill Gordon and Cadwalader, ...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
See my post below. Cadwalader is probably a good example of ...
high-end ticket booth
  02/05/06
High PPP's aren't necessarily bad for associates and don't n...
high-end ticket booth
  02/05/06
This makes sense. All other things being equal, happy partn...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Whatever statistic you're looking at, your "happy partn...
high-end ticket booth
  02/05/06
I don't see how "good business practices" and &quo...
Pearly useless hunting ground corner
  02/05/06
That would be a fair thing to say. Trying to squeeze extra h...
high-end ticket booth
  02/05/06
Even if it is the optimal level of slave driving, that may n...
Pearly useless hunting ground corner
  02/05/06
I think associates would like to work less for the same sala...
high-end ticket booth
  02/05/06
I wasn't saying that they're out to get the partners. I'm s...
Pearly useless hunting ground corner
  02/05/06
There isn't that much mobility. It isn't good for an associa...
high-end ticket booth
  02/05/06
Here's a link to Bay Area numbers in case anybody missed it:...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
These PPP numbers confuse me. The most common chart I've se...
Gay galvanic chapel
  02/05/06
You're missing that that chart is from 2000.
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Haha good point. Where can I see the latest chart?
Gay galvanic chapel
  02/05/06
Look up this cite in Westlaw: 8/2005 AMLAW 113
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Thanks. What other charts that show rankings of law firms a...
Gay galvanic chapel
  02/05/06
You are probably talking about the American Lawyer's A-List....
Up-to-no-good stead
  02/05/06
Yeah, AmLaw has its annual A-list: http://www.law.com/jsp/ta...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Thanks guys. Yeah I really don't care whatsoever about pro ...
Gay galvanic chapel
  02/05/06
Associate satisfaction is from their annual associates surve...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Revenue per lawyer.
Sexy Very Tactful Headpube Black Woman
  02/05/06
Oh and if you need another random stat, you can check out co...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
The A-list has the categories broken down for every firm in ...
Up-to-no-good stead
  02/05/06
Yeah, you can't put much stock in high associate satisfactio...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Old numbers?
carnelian bull headed foreskin
  02/05/06
Hazelrah: Seeing as you're unusually talented at searching g...
Heady brass idiot
  02/05/06
Haven't heard anything about Wachtell. Somebody (I think zc...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
wachtell had total comp $200K this year - bonuses at $60K.
Stubborn Self-absorbed Office Cuck
  02/05/06
At 70 hrs/wk vs. 60, that comes out to an extra $5 per hour.
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
hey man, I am not working there.
Stubborn Self-absorbed Office Cuck
  02/05/06
Isn't it more like $80/hour? 200,000-160,000 divided by 1...
high-end ticket booth
  02/05/06
We're calculating different things. Yours treats the extra ...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Gotcha. By number shows that $5 more per hour not insubstant...
high-end ticket booth
  02/05/06
Yeah, I shouldn't have brushed it off like that. Anybody wh...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Yeah. Look at the political impact/depates that go into a $....
high-end ticket booth
  02/05/06
I'm not sure too many people would accept working another 10...
irate boyish location mental disorder
  02/05/06
It's about right, and a little better, because I'd figure so...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/05/06
Law really does not pay as well as business. This is the ver...
Dark comical piazza
  02/05/06
and your point is?
Heady brass idiot
  02/05/06
The problem is that law firms: 1) bill by the hour, and 2) h...
high-end ticket booth
  02/05/06
Post-weekend bump.
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/06/06
Educate me. PPP doesn't mean that is what the partner takes...
Flesh hairraiser background story
  02/06/06
that would be revenue per partner not profits. profits are ...
Stubborn Self-absorbed Office Cuck
  02/06/06
Do you know if the profits per partner figure just the profi...
crusty shitlib station
  02/06/06
i'm pretty sure that PPP is just the whole pot divided by th...
Heady brass idiot
  02/06/06
Almost all lockstep firms allow for some adjustment for perf...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/06/06
How does the partnership "buy in" get figured?
Flesh hairraiser background story
  02/06/06
Pretty sure they aren't figured into these numbers.
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/06/06
They can be rather signifcant I believe. I think they are i...
Flesh hairraiser background story
  02/06/06
Yeah, I believe at many firms, new partners make less than s...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/06/06
Well I'm glad this thread was helpful to somebody: http://in...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/11/06
Yeah, i think i've had a discussion on here with that guy be...
Fluffy Cruise Ship Dingle Berry
  02/11/06
I would definitely like to see salaries go up. I'm not exac...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/11/06
Have Milbank, White & Case and Proskauer announced match...
drunken trailer park
  02/11/06
I believe Milbank has (do they have an hours requirement on ...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/11/06
Added info on OMM, Paul Hastings, and profits per equity par...
Slap-happy Newt University
  02/22/06


Poast new message in this thread





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:11 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Quinn - $1.9m (+1%)

Gibson - $1.635m (+8%)

O'Melveny - $1.615 (+23%) / $1.515m all partners

Latham - $1.602m (+14%) / $1.400m all partners

Paul Hastings - $1.325m (+13%)

Munger - ~$1.08m (+4%)

Manatt - $1m

Loeb - $926k (+30%)

Sheppard - $785k (+15%)

Allen Matkins - $675k (+16%)

Irell not yet reporting.

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1138961110211

http://www.legalweekstudent.net/ViewItem.asp?id=27628

Last year: http://www.xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=136852&mc=2&forum_id=2#3983802

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998384)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:26 AM
Author: Umber French Dilemma Hairy Legs

How do these figures related to associates?

I know a high PPP is good for partners. But does that conversely mean that a high PPP is bad for associates?

I'm clueless.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998486)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:28 AM
Author: Blue kitchen

Firms will take a small slice of PPP and give it to associates as their discretionary bonuses.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998492)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:30 AM
Author: Umber French Dilemma Hairy Legs

So a high PPP benefits both partners *and* associates in terms of compensation, is that correct?

But doesn't it also mean that the associates were billing more hours than their competetors (to get the PPP so high above the competition)?



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998507)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:32 AM
Author: Blue kitchen

Yes.

Not necessarily. It could just mean the firm had a major windfall case that year.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998516)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:33 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Interesting thing about Quinn is that while their 2004 jump in PPP was attributed to a big contingency case(s), they seem to have maintained that PPP this year even without it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998527)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:36 AM
Author: Blue kitchen

ask greedy la.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998552)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:34 AM
Author: Pearly useless hunting ground corner

Or it can suggest they're leveraging the hell out of their associates and there's not much hope for them to ever make partner.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998533)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:10 PM
Author: Heady brass idiot

Exactly. "Windfalls" don't happen in biglaw unless you're in the rare firm (Quinn, Boies, Susman) that does contingency work. Otherwise, windfall just means the firm was ridiculously busy and thus was leveraging the hell out of each and every associate.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5000641)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:29 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Well, it's hard to say that without knowing how busy the firm was the year before -- this increase could just put the firm back at "normal" work levels. Also firms like Gibson and Latham might increase overall PPP if some traditionally slower branch offices (and overseas offices) picked up a lot of new work -- although I guess that usually ends up spilling over to main offices as well.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5000780)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:53 PM
Author: Heady brass idiot

Sure, I just meant that "windfall" in biglaw means someone was working harder somewhere. It doesn't mean they unexpectedly got a $500 million jury verdict in a products liability case.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5000991)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:58 PM
Author: Blue kitchen

This is not really true.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001035)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:00 PM
Author: Heady brass idiot

Educate me.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001046)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:04 PM
Author: Blue kitchen

I was at a dinner party last night where a biglaw partner was talking about a windfall.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001076)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:15 PM
Author: Heady brass idiot

I guess that settles it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001120)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:19 PM
Author: Blue kitchen

Meh, its not uncommon is all I'm saying.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001137)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:23 PM
Author: Heady brass idiot

I just don't understand how a windfall is even theoretically possible under a billable hours system, unless one office is just totally out of touch with how much another office is working.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001152)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:26 PM
Author: Sexy Very Tactful Headpube Black Woman

This is just a semantic disagreement.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001161)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:30 PM
Author: Onyx aphrodisiac genital piercing

contingency fees

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001176)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:31 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Wow, somebody didn't read the thread.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001178)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:32 PM
Author: Onyx aphrodisiac genital piercing

so shoot me

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001183)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:29 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

This board sometimes likes to use PPP as a proxy for firm prestige.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998504)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:31 AM
Author: Umber French Dilemma Hairy Legs

Is there a PPP ranking (for all firms, not just LA) that I can find online?



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998511)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:32 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

If you have Westlaw, look up last year's AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 issues.

EDIT: Here's a cite: 8/2005 AMLAW 113

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998519)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:34 AM
Author: Umber French Dilemma Hairy Legs

If PPP is a proxy for prestige, why is Munger so highly regarded on this board? PPP of $1M doesn't seem very prestigious (relatively).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998537)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:37 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

This board also likes to use selectivity as a proxy for prestige.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998555)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:38 AM
Author: Blue kitchen

You say that with a pejorative tone, but both are clearly the most empirical measures of prestige.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998562)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:40 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Even somebody who's been online as long as me has trouble conveying tone accurately online. I actually didn't mean it either positively or negatively.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998581)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:41 AM
Author: Blue kitchen

It was the "this board" part I guess. Sorry.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998588)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:42 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

I might have been criticizing the board's obsession with firm prestige a bit, but I didn't mean anything regarding selectivity as a factor.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998601)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:47 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Some more counterexamples are Cahill Gordon and Cadwalader, both with PPP over $2 million in 2004, but aren't generally regarded as very prestigious on xoxo.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998621)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:55 AM
Author: high-end ticket booth

See my post below. Cadwalader is probably a good example of a firm that runs a good business and makes smart financial decisions. They own their building.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998680)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:54 AM
Author: high-end ticket booth

High PPP's aren't necessarily bad for associates and don't necessarily mean a firm is drilling its associates harder.

Some firms are managed better than others. Some firms have lazy old partners getting paid to do nothing. Or they'll have a bunch of high-paid managing partners who don't practice much law. A law firm is like any other business, and it can blow a ton of money due to bad decisions.

A high PPP firm is probably a good thing for associates. Business is stable. Partners doing well and have good work for you and aren't going to leave for another firm. Bonuses aren't likely to be in doubt.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998667)





Date: February 5th, 2006 2:07 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

This makes sense. All other things being equal, happy partners are probably good for associates.

Obviously there's a limit to what you can do with any single statistic, but I wonder how you'd interpret revenue per lawyer numbers?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998770)





Date: February 5th, 2006 2:14 AM
Author: high-end ticket booth

Whatever statistic you're looking at, your "happy partners are probably good for associates" is going to hold true.

A firm that is more profitable is probably one with good business practices, not one that squeezes a few more hours out of its associates.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998823)





Date: February 5th, 2006 2:16 AM
Author: Pearly useless hunting ground corner

I don't see how "good business practices" and "one that squeezes a few more hours out of its associates" are opposed. Are you saying they've reached the optimal level of slave driving?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998839)





Date: February 5th, 2006 2:21 AM
Author: high-end ticket booth

That would be a fair thing to say. Trying to squeeze extra hours out of associates may have negative effects, too. Quality of work goes down, time needed to be written off, lawyers are more unhappy and prone to leave, firm's reputation goes down.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998877)





Date: February 5th, 2006 2:27 AM
Author: Pearly useless hunting ground corner

Even if it is the optimal level of slave driving, that may not be best for associates. Associates would love to work less for the same salary if it comes at the expense of the partners' incomes.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998932)





Date: February 5th, 2006 2:36 AM
Author: high-end ticket booth

I think associates would like to work less for the same salary so they can have more free time and less stress, not because they're pissed that they're making the partners rich.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4998986)





Date: February 5th, 2006 2:38 AM
Author: Pearly useless hunting ground corner

I wasn't saying that they're out to get the partners. I'm saying that if that's where the money has to come from, they'd be fine with that. That would reduce PPP and suggest that associates may very well be better off at a firm that doesn't have the highest PPP ranking.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4999000)





Date: February 5th, 2006 2:43 AM
Author: high-end ticket booth

There isn't that much mobility. It isn't good for an associate to move around too much, so a move with the hopes of slightly less hours really isn't going to happen.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#4999042)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:07 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Here's a link to Bay Area numbers in case anybody missed it: http://www.bmacewen.com/blog/pdf/BayAreaTopTen2005Results.html (chart at end of article)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5000624)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:35 PM
Author: Gay galvanic chapel

These PPP numbers confuse me. The most common chart I've seen is: http://www.law.com/special/professionals/amlaw/amlaw200/amlaw200_ppp.html

That chart lists a lot of CA firms as having quite low PPP's. For example, Irell is $615,000, Munger is $660,000, and Orrick is $660,000.

What gives? What am I missing?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5000833)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:37 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

You're missing that that chart is from 2000.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5000854)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:37 PM
Author: Gay galvanic chapel

Haha good point. Where can I see the latest chart?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5000858)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:38 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Look up this cite in Westlaw: 8/2005 AMLAW 113

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5000866)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:53 PM
Author: Gay galvanic chapel

Thanks. What other charts that show rankings of law firms are good besides vault? I remember hearing one by AmLaw or something that was kind of like US News is that it assigned weights to a lot of different criteria.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5000994)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:57 PM
Author: Up-to-no-good stead

You are probably talking about the American Lawyer's A-List. They rank the top 20 firms in the country based on a few factors such as revenue per lawyer, associate satisfaction, pro-bono, diversity, etc. However, on their website you can see how all of the AmLaw 200 rank.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001025)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:00 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Yeah, AmLaw has its annual A-list: http://www.law.com/jsp/tal/PubArticleTAL.jsp?id=1125047117498

Not very popular on this board, because it includes pro bono and diversity scores. Even if you did think those were important factors, the methodology is unclear and probably whacked.

I don't think this or any other ranking is really all that good. Really it just comes down to what kind of work you want to do and what kind of firm will be the best fit for you. Unfortunately it can be pretty hard to know either until well after you've had to make a choice.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001045)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:04 PM
Author: Gay galvanic chapel

Thanks guys. Yeah I really don't care whatsoever about pro bono and diversity. Is there a way you can just see how firms rank when it comes to Associate Satisfaction and RPL Score (whatever that is?).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001070)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:07 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Associate satisfaction is from their annual associates survey: http://www.law.com/jsp/tal/PubArticleTAL.jsp?hubtype=Cover+Story&id=1127984709005

I think rating stuff this way is pretty unhelpful, although the avg hours billed/worked I think is pretty good.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001090)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:10 PM
Author: Sexy Very Tactful Headpube Black Woman

Revenue per lawyer.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001108)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:12 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Oh and if you need another random stat, you can check out corp deal volume/value:

http://www.xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=274885&mc=19&forum_id=2

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001115)





Date: February 5th, 2006 3:21 PM
Author: Up-to-no-good stead

The A-list has the categories broken down for every firm in the Am-Law 200. I would be careful how much stock you put into the "associate satisfaction" numbers. RPL is hard to fuge, but some of the most miserable people I know are at places with high satisfaction. Thats not to say they won't be better on the whole, its just saying you still might be miserable there.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001900)





Date: February 5th, 2006 3:29 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Yeah, you can't put much stock in high associate satisfaction scores. Low satisfaction scores might mean something, but you have to keep in mind that it's a self-selecting group that answers the surveys, so it could be just a few responses from people with a bone to pick.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001951)





Date: February 5th, 2006 12:37 PM
Author: carnelian bull headed foreskin

Old numbers?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5000855)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:00 PM
Author: Heady brass idiot

Hazelrah: Seeing as you're unusually talented at searching greedy associates (which I am too dense to understand), have you seen anything about Wachtell numbers? Seems like if they want to keep their "better than everyone" compensation scheme, they'll have to bump up to $160,000 for first years (unless they want to rely entirely on bonuses for exceeding market). I guess the same holds true for Skadden too.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001041)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:03 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Haven't heard anything about Wachtell. Somebody (I think zcxv) said their first-year bonuses were around 60k, which seems about right. I think we'll need to wait a few weeks to see how the rest of the market deals with the S&C raises.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001066)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:34 PM
Author: Stubborn Self-absorbed Office Cuck

wachtell had total comp $200K this year - bonuses at $60K.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001192)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:37 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

At 70 hrs/wk vs. 60, that comes out to an extra $5 per hour.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001206)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:38 PM
Author: Stubborn Self-absorbed Office Cuck

hey man, I am not working there.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001210)





Date: February 5th, 2006 3:40 PM
Author: high-end ticket booth

Isn't it more like $80/hour?

200,000-160,000 divided by 10 x 50

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5002033)





Date: February 5th, 2006 3:46 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

We're calculating different things. Yours treats the extra Wachtell hours as "overtime pay," mine was how much the Wachtell associate makes as a fixed hourly wage. Both are probably useful to know.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5002064)





Date: February 5th, 2006 3:48 PM
Author: high-end ticket booth

Gotcha. By number shows that $5 more per hour not insubstantial even if you're making 6-figures.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5002081)





Date: February 5th, 2006 3:50 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Yeah, I shouldn't have brushed it off like that. Anybody who's worked a wage job knows that an extra $5/hr is huge, especially when you're talking 60 hours a week. I've been "promoted" with wage increases far below that.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5002089)





Date: February 5th, 2006 3:51 PM
Author: high-end ticket booth

Yeah. Look at the political impact/depates that go into a $.25 or $.50 min. wage increase.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5002100)





Date: February 5th, 2006 3:54 PM
Author: irate boyish location mental disorder

I'm not sure too many people would accept working another 10-12 hour full day for the $5/hr promotion. In the real world, overtime pays time and a half. How does that figure into your calculations?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5002119)





Date: February 5th, 2006 3:58 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

It's about right, and a little better, because I'd figure somebody at e.g. DPW was making ~$53/hr, and the post above puts Wachtell overtime pay at $80/hr, which is pretty good.

But yeah, the problem is the marginal value of free time usually gets extremely high as you get later and later into the day.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5002153)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:03 PM
Author: Dark comical piazza

Law really does not pay as well as business. This is the very of the top and compared to successful finance/entrepreneurs, they don't earn a lot. I mean, obviously they earn an obscene amount. But considering that it's the very top of the earnings chart (excluding the like 2 plaintiff's attorneys who make zillions), the positions are freakin impossible to get, and they're crushing to have, the salaries are not that high.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001063)





Date: February 5th, 2006 1:04 PM
Author: Heady brass idiot

and your point is?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5001069)





Date: February 5th, 2006 3:38 PM
Author: high-end ticket booth

The problem is that law firms: 1) bill by the hour, and 2) have no assets besides human capital. Those two statements are obvious, but when you think about it, you'll realize why a law firm isn't a great business.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5002021)





Date: February 6th, 2006 8:15 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Post-weekend bump.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5007815)





Date: February 6th, 2006 11:17 AM
Author: Flesh hairraiser background story

Educate me. PPP doesn't mean that is what the partner takes home, correct? You still need to reduce it by assc. salary, business expenses, etc.?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5008262)





Date: February 6th, 2006 11:19 AM
Author: Stubborn Self-absorbed Office Cuck

that would be revenue per partner not profits. profits are whats left after the expenses are taken out. I am not sure if associate bonuses count as expenses - they probably do.

I think partners get to take home the profits unless tey reinvest it into some big captial expenditure.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5008287)





Date: February 6th, 2006 11:37 AM
Author: crusty shitlib station

Do you know if the profits per partner figure just the profits divided by number partners (so there could be some partners making more or less than the figure listed) or is it more the average partner's gross pay?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5008413)





Date: February 6th, 2006 11:40 AM
Author: Heady brass idiot

i'm pretty sure that PPP is just the whole pot divided by the number of partners. in reality, junior partners will be taking home less than PPP, and senior partners more -- at least at a lockstep firm. at an eat-what-you-kill firm, different partners will be taking home more and less than PPP, but as determined by performance rather than seniority.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5008441)





Date: February 6th, 2006 11:46 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Almost all lockstep firms allow for some adjustment for performance, so younger rainmakers can still make as much or more as more senior partners.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5008489)





Date: February 6th, 2006 11:53 AM
Author: Flesh hairraiser background story

How does the partnership "buy in" get figured?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5008566)





Date: February 6th, 2006 11:56 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Pretty sure they aren't figured into these numbers.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5008592)





Date: February 6th, 2006 12:02 PM
Author: Flesh hairraiser background story

They can be rather signifcant I believe. I think they are included in a capital account, which you should be able to recover when you leave the firm.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5008645)





Date: February 6th, 2006 12:04 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Yeah, I believe at many firms, new partners make less than senior associates when you take the required buy-in into account.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5008672)





Date: February 11th, 2006 1:54 AM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Well I'm glad this thread was helpful to somebody: http://infirmation.com/bboard/clubs-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=002wvB (although I think I recognize that name from this board)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5054802)





Date: February 11th, 2006 2:01 AM
Author: Fluffy Cruise Ship Dingle Berry

Yeah, i think i've had a discussion on here with that guy before.

What do you make of this contention about LA firms? You seem to be the foremost authority on LA firm compensation.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5054863)





Date: February 11th, 2006 12:46 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

I would definitely like to see salaries go up. I'm not exactly excited about the prospect of being a 2nd year in LA and knowing a first-year in the NY office is making more in salary *and* bonus. But it remains to be seen how much influence the NY firms have in LA.

The only top NY firms in LA are SullCrom, Skadden, and Simpson. S&C and Simpson are both pretty small and probably hire less than 10 summers between them. I also don't think they take very many laterals. It's not clear to me that they overlap all that much with Munger/Irell/Quinn or GDC/OMM/LW in LA, unless you wanted to a specific kind of corp practice.

Skadden is a bigger player with a broader practice. But they've been at $140k and paying (close to) NY bonuses, with limited effect, although maybe the difference is big enough now to force LA firms to respond.

Milbank, White & Case, and Proskauer are in LA also, but I don't really know too much about these offices. Proskauer is possibly more of a contender, with their litigation/entertainment practice.

I think at the very least we'll see the LA firms match Kirkland's $10k across the board raise. A $15k disparity for 2nd years and higher will really increase dissatisfaction, if not lateralling. $10k might allow for some wiggle room with bonuses, although it's not like the LA firms (except maybe Irell) were really matching NY bonuses anyway.

I might be missing something here and there could be more pressure in LA than I've noticed. But I think if it does go to $145k, Silicon Valley will play a big part of it -- there are a few more NY firms there, and they seem to be expanding and grabbing market share from Wilson Sonsini and the local players. So we'll see what happens.

I think I'll start a Cali $145k raise vigil thread, heh.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5056343)





Date: February 11th, 2006 12:49 PM
Author: drunken trailer park

Have Milbank, White & Case and Proskauer announced matching across the board?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5056368)





Date: February 11th, 2006 12:52 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

I believe Milbank has (do they have an hours requirement on their bonuses?) and Proskauer is expected to announce next week. I'm not so sure on White & Case -- they announced in NY but I don't think those apply to other offices. Could be wrong.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5056394)





Date: February 22nd, 2006 1:41 PM
Author: Slap-happy Newt University

Added info on OMM, Paul Hastings, and profits per equity partner / all partners distinction.

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1139911510735

http://www.legalweekstudent.net/ViewItem.asp?id=27628

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=353408&forum_id=2#5157033)