Freshfields vs Latham for M&A
5
Anyone else having a pretty bad experience this summer? Maybe its just the firm I am at but— * No one seemed to have time for me. * A lot of people came across as rude or unprofessional. * The overall vibe was that associates and partners were unhappy. * The summer events were underwhelming. * I personally know of three people who are deciding not to accept their return offers because of the vibes and culture in the office. Curious if this was just my experience or if others felt the same…
Do folks pick up calls from unknown numbers on their work line? I typically ignore because it’s always spam, but today I missed a call that turned out to be from a partner’s cell and they’re upset that I didn’t pick up. If they had messaged me on Teams first or called from their work line it wouldn’t have been an issue. Is it expected to take every call on your work line or is the partner being unreasonable?
There is a first year associate in my office who likes to over-order on summer lunches (extra entree, multiple personal sides, dessert for the road, etc.). People are definitely talking about it and the associate is developing a reputation for a lack of self-awareness. Worth pulling him aside and gently mentioning to him? Don’t think the associate is gonna figure it out on his own since his head is in the clouds and he doesn’t have many friends in the office.
By any measure, Latham.
lol two different leagues. Latham
I mean Latham definitely stronger but those who are acting like freshfields is a joke or something should take a look at their hiring spree over the last 5 years. Of all the UK firms that is definitely the one to be at, and I could see an argument for it over LW if the goal is equity partner.
All fair but certainly a risk if the goal is EP. These magic circle firms barely promote in the US so you're assuming major growth and more importantly profits for that to change. They promoted 3 in the US this year.
Not saying go to Freshfields but lateraling into Latham M&A as an associate didn’t go well for the people I know. Anecdotal, but this handful of people moved again to have better advancement prospects. Which office probably also matters.
Latham is terrible at integrating their laterals - former Latham M&A lateral I understand you'll have bad laterals at any other peer firm - but based on my experience and what I see, and hear about at other offices, once work dries up, you're a second class citizen.
Tbh, Freshfields. Latham on paper seems much better for M&A but laterals are known for struggling there (there’s some weird culture around lateral hires in many of the firm’s offices), to echo what another poster noted. If the market were stronger, though, I would’ve def said Latham
Idk about freshfields but latham does a lot more layoffs than its peers but just more quietly after 08. They have a great PR team to silence any news about layoffs. "Lathaming" is still very true to this day.
A13, someone who knew a bunch of people on AsComm said they do that on purpose to set the stage for axing you in future
Lol, wut
Freshfields has hired some heavy hitters lately. I wouldn’t write them off so fast.
Nixon Peabody
Freshfields here. In the EU so I have no horse in the race in the colonies. Honestly, Freshfields. Currently our associates in the US are catching up to the EU. Over the next 10 year it will be the place to be for career development and international transactions.
Lol
This isn’t even a question. Latham. Yes Freshfields has hired a ton of heavy hitters, but those heavy hitters are all bringing in their own people. I wouldn’t want to be an associate who lateraled in unless I had a prior connection to the M&A folks. Also offers way better exit opportunities.
Very true A5. Potentially ton of upside, but at this stage of the groups growth (quite literally ground floor), I think it carries too much risk when presented with the alternative of going to Latham. What if they don’t attract any more partners? Then you’re looking at a 2-partner private equity group. No chance that works out long term.
Better to be Lathamed than Freshfielded
I think PE v public work is also a big thing to consider (to the extent you care). I know FF just hired some PE laterals, but I think most of their big poaches over the last few years focus on public work. Whereas LW is obviously a strong platform for PE work generally.