BigLaw partner lateral moves involve extensive due diligence on portable business, client relationship verification, and detailed compensation negotiations. The process typically takes 3-6 months and requires careful timing around non-competes and client notifications.
Seattle's lateral market continues to thrive, anchored by major tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft that drive substantial demand for corporate, IP, and employment attorneys. The region's unique employment law landscape and growing practice areas make it attractive for career pivots.
Patent litigation associates handle document review, prior art research, claim construction briefing, expert witness coordination, and trial preparation. The work is highly technical and substantive, with better work-life balance than M&A but intense periods during trials and key deadlines.
The Charlotte move likely makes financial sense when adjusted for cost of living, with senior associates earning $280K-$320K versus NYC's $435K+ but gaining 40%+ lower expenses. Partnership timelines are often faster in Charlotte's growing market.
California's intricate wage and hour regulations, including PAGA claims and classification issues, create enormous demand for employment lawyers. The state's employee-friendly laws and high-stakes litigation make California-specific expertise incredibly valuable.
Evaluating an Am Law 100 lateral offer requires analyzing compensation against current Cravath scale benchmarks, assessing the firm's practice strength and culture, and weighing long-term career trajectory benefits against lifestyle trade-offs.
Moving from BigLaw to a quality employment boutique can be an excellent career move, especially given the robust demand for employment law expertise. While you'll likely take a short-term pay cut, the specialized experience and better work-life balance often lead to stronger long-term prospects.
Securities litigation offers strong compensation and steady demand, particularly at elite firms and boutiques. The practice combines complex financial analysis with high-stakes litigation, making it an attractive specialty for experienced commercial litigators.
Fenwick & West is a premier Silicon Valley technology law firm known for venture capital, IPOs, and emerging company representation. They're particularly strong in tech transactions, employment law for tech companies, and intellectual property matters.
BigLaw junior associate salaries follow the Cravath scale, with first-years earning $215,000 and second-years making $235,000 at top firms. Regional markets like Charlotte and Seattle may offer 10-20% adjustments, but cost of living differences often favor these markets.
Charlotte is experiencing exceptional growth as a legal market, driven by major financial institutions and expanding firm presence. The market offers strong opportunities for corporate and financial services attorneys, with competitive compensation adjusted for significantly lower cost of living.
In-house attorneys routinely sign interrogatories and discovery responses as part of their role, but should understand the professional liability implications and implement proper review procedures. This responsibility comes with the territory of being corporate counsel.
Charlotte is emerging as one of the fastest-growing Southeast legal markets, driven by banking headquarters and lower competition, while Atlanta remains the established regional hub with broader practice diversity but higher attorney saturation.
BigLaw partner compensation varies significantly by firm tier and partnership track. Most firms use a two-tier system with income equity partners earning $500K-$1.5M and full equity partners averaging $1.5M-$5M+ depending on origination and firm performance.
Investment management and funds law is experiencing robust growth driven by record private equity activity, new regulatory frameworks, and expanding alternative investment strategies. Demand is particularly strong in major financial centers and firms are actively recruiting experienced practitioners.