Private equity funds focusing on emerging companies create significant lateral opportunities for corporate attorneys. These funds drive demand for specialized legal services in M&A, securities, and regulatory compliance as their portfolio companies scale.
Hogan Lovells non-equity partners typically earn approximately $400K-$800K annually, varying by office, practice area, and performance. The firm's international platform and strong market position generally support competitive compensation packages.
BigLaw associates handle sophisticated transactions and litigation with significant client responsibility, billing 1,900-2,400+ hours annually. Work varies dramatically by practice area, from M&A due diligence to complex commercial litigation, with clear advancement tracks to counsel and partnership.
Corporate associates handle M&A, securities, and general corporate work, with firms evaluating deal experience, drafting skills, and client management abilities. The current market strongly favors experienced corporate laterals, especially those with 3-7 years of experience.
The M&A associate lateral market remains competitive but active, with strong demand in tech-heavy markets and emerging practice areas. Success depends heavily on timing, deal experience quality, and target market selection.
Legal recruiters are paid by law firms, not candidates, typically earning 20-33% of the attorney's first-year salary as a placement fee. This creates important dynamics attorneys should understand when working with recruiters.
Partner billable hours vary significantly by firm type and market, with Am Law 100 partners typically billing 2,000-2,400 hours annually. However, partners focus more on business development and client management than pure hour generation.
Seattle offers higher attorney salaries but significantly higher housing costs, while Portland provides a lower cost of living but fewer BigLaw opportunities. Tax differences and lifestyle factors also impact the real value of compensation packages.
Legal recruiters help attorneys navigate lateral moves by matching candidates with firm opportunities, providing market intelligence, and managing the interview process. They're typically paid by firms on successful placements, making their services free for candidates.
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.
Choose a substantive, well-written sample from your current practice area that showcases analytical thinking and clear writing. Most firms prefer 5-10 page excerpts from briefs, memoranda, or opinion letters over transactional documents.
Top Indian law firms like Khaitan & Co typically offer competitive compensation packages that vary significantly based on experience level and practice area. International firms in India generally pay 20-40% premiums over domestic firms, while partnership tracks differ substantially between traditional Indian firms and global practices.
Washington and California employment law markets differ significantly in regulatory complexity, with California's PAGA and wage & hour laws creating more plaintiff-side opportunities, while Washington's noncompete ban and tech concentration drive corporate employment demand.
The Bay Area offers excellent employment law opportunities across Big Law firms like Fenwick & West and Wilson Sonsini (tech-focused) and specialized boutiques. PAGA litigation and tech layoff cases are driving significant demand for new talent.
Charlotte's IP transactional market is surprisingly robust, driven by the city's fintech boom and major corporate headquarters. While deal sizes may be smaller than Silicon Valley, the work is sophisticated and the market is growing rapidly.