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Going to be lateraling to SF market as a midlevel. End goal is AUSA or some other SEC/Big Fed related job in SF area.

No real desire to make partner unless it helps my bigfed dreams. Which firm should I go to? alternatively, if there's another firm I should look at, please let me know too (other than Keker, already rejected).

SF-based litigator here. Kirkland/Sidley are fine, but if you don't look hard at these four firms, you're not doing your diligence.

http://www.kblfirm.com/careers/
https://www.taylorpatchen.com/
http://lewisllewellyn.com/
https://durietangri.com/

SF has a great boutique culture. You'll get much better experience at these firms than you will at Kirkland/Sidley.

Also, MTO has an SF office. It's absurdly selective, but also likely a better experience than Kirkland/Sidley.

Edit: Also, if you're looking AUSA/BigFed, why aren't Covington/Gibson/Latham/Orrick on your list? All have large SF offices with strong reputations in white collar.

Anonymous User wrote:SF-based litigator here. Kirkland/Sidley are fine, but if you don't look hard at these four firms, you're not doing your diligence.

http://www.kblfirm.com/careers/
https://www.taylorpatchen.com/
http://lewisllewellyn.com/
https://durietangri.com/

SF has a great boutique culture. You'll get much better experience at these firms than you will at Kirkland/Sidley.

Also, MTO has an SF office. It's absurdly selective, but also likely a better experience than Kirkland/Sidley.

Edit: Also, if you're looking AUSA/BigFed, why aren't Covington/Gibson/Latham/Orrick on your list? All have large SF offices with strong reputations in white collar.

Quinn should be near the top of the list too no?

Anonymous User wrote:SF-based litigator here. Kirkland/Sidley are fine, but if you don't look hard at these four firms, you're not doing your diligence.

http://www.kblfirm.com/careers/
https://www.taylorpatchen.com/
http://lewisllewellyn.com/
https://durietangri.com/

SF has a great boutique culture. You'll get much better experience at these firms than you will at Kirkland/Sidley.

Also, MTO has an SF office. It's absurdly selective, but also likely a better experience than Kirkland/Sidley.

Edit: Also, if you're looking AUSA/BigFed, why aren't Covington/Gibson/Latham/Orrick on your list? All have large SF offices with strong reputations in white collar.

This was crazy helpful thanks. I had not heard of any these boutiques you listed. I'm going to look into them. With regards to Cov/Gibson/Latham, I was under the impression that the SF offices did mostly IP work and the white collar or commercial lit practices were in LA. I could be wrong.


Given my bigfed ambitions, I was thinking that whit ecollar practice would be most preferable, then commercial lit. As for Orrick, I just forgot about it... and will be applying if I can find an opening that fits.

Keker, Van Nest & Peters should be at or near the very top of your list. It's arguably the best litigation boutique in SF.

EDIT: Just saw OP's mention that he was dinged from Keker. Comment withdrawn

Give Saveri a look if you're interested in p-side antitrust at all. They sent a pretty compelling recruitment letter to law clerks on the 9th Cir. https://saverilawfirm.com/

Anonymous User wrote:Give Saveri a look if you're interested in p-side antitrust at all. They sent a pretty compelling recruitment letter to law clerks on the 9th Cir. https://saverilawfirm.com/

Same SF-based anon above. This is credited.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Give Saveri a look if you're interested in p-side antitrust at all. They sent a pretty compelling recruitment letter to law clerks on the 9th Cir. https://saverilawfirm.com/

Same SF-based anon above. This is credited.

first anon: interesting, thanks. Anything particularly noteworthy on the recruitment letter? I can't find any info about this firm.

second anon: Appreciate you chiming in again -- certainly adds credibility.

Surprised by the lack of love for Farella Braun and the favor for Kobre Kim. Anyone have any insight on this?

Anonymous User wrote:Surprised by the lack of love for Farella Braun and the favor for Kobre Kim. Anyone have any insight on this?

Can't speak to the SF office, but in NY/DC Kobre & Kim is on the level of KVN/MTO/W&C etc. Super selective - all or nearly all of the associates are former clerks, lots of HYS types, etc. Farella Braun isn't like that. Should that matter to OP? IDK

Edit: Just went on K&K website and filtered by SF. Looks small, and they don't even split by associate/partner, but it's the same sort of thing. All but one senior partner-type clerked, PhDs from Yale, etc

Thanks for hte clarification re: Kobre Kim.

sf litigator here. never heard of Kobre Kim, but not sure that means anything. Wouldn't recommend QE for AUSA hopes in the bay area -- they have former AUSAs, but none from NDCal, and no history of sending people into the USAO. When I think of good firms for that, I think Gibson and Orrick -- but that's just a guess, I didn't work at either of them.

I'd recommend interning with NDCal at some point to build connections there, as well as trying to clerk in the district. Former US Attorney of NdCal, Melinda Haag, works at Orrick now, so I assume working with and impressing her would be a good leg up.

Agreed that Munger should be on your list if you want to be an AUSA. The firm is crazy connected in California. They rarely hire laterals, though. And those who do come from NYC firms like Wachtell or Cravath.

Anonymous User wrote:I'd recommend interning with NDCal at some point to build connections there, as well as trying to clerk in the district. Former US Attorney of NdCal, Melinda Haag, works at Orrick now, so I assume working with and impressing her would be a good leg up.

maybe I'm missing something, but OP is gonna be a midlevel associate. are you suggesting he quit and apply for like, a summer internship with a bunch of 1Ls lol

Anonymous User wrote:Agreed that Munger should be on your list if you want to be an AUSA. The firm is crazy connected in California. They rarely hire laterals, though. And those who do come from NYC firms like Wachtell or Cravath.

That was my original thought as well. I was under the impression that Munger did not hire laterals so I didn't apply..

Anonymous User wrote:sf litigator here. never heard of Kobre Kim, but not sure that means anything. Wouldn't recommend QE for AUSA hopes in the bay area -- they have former AUSAs, but none from NDCal, and no history of sending people into the USAO. When I think of good firms for that, I think Gibson and Orrick -- but that's just a guess, I didn't work at either of them.

I'd recommend interning with NDCal at some point to build connections there, as well as trying to clerk in the district. Former US Attorney of NdCal, Melinda Haag, works at Orrick now, so I assume working with and impressing her would be a good leg up.

Thanks for this. Question for you: how important do you think it is to be at a firm doing white collar work as opposed to Commercial lit. Obv, white collar is beter if I want to go bigfed/usao but I'm wondering if that outweighs the value of another firm with a more reputable/stronger litigation practice where I'd be doing more commercial lit.

Wow. very very surprised at all the Kobre Kim votes. Is this based on their actual strength in SF or just on what people know of DC/NY offices?

Anon SF litigator from above. My guess is NY/DC reputation. I've never heard reference to, nor seen on any of my cases, Kobre & Kim.

I have a friend at K&S, she loves the firm. You should add them to your "check them out" list.

Anonymous User wrote:I have a friend at K&S, she loves the firm. You should add them to your "check them out" list.

Thnaks. What's K&S? King and Spalding?

Anonymous User wrote:Anon SF litigator from above. My guess is NY/DC reputation. I've never heard reference to, nor seen on any of my cases, Kobre & Kim.

Sorry to side track, but what do you know/think about Jones Day SF for litigation?

I don't work in SF, but K&S is a very good firm for white-collar work. You probably already knew that, though.

Anonymous User wrote:I don't work in SF, but K&S is a very good firm for white-collar work. You probably already knew that, though.

what's k and s?

gaddockteeg wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I don't work in SF, but K&S is a very good firm for white-collar work. You probably already knew that, though.

what's k and s?

Unless there's another K&S I don't know about, anon above means King & Spalding.

SFSpartan wrote:

gaddockteeg wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I don't work in SF, but K&S is a very good firm for white-collar work. You probably already knew that, though.

what's k and s?

Unless there's another K&S I don't know about, anon above means King & Spalding.

Thakns, that's what I figured, but I wasn't sure.