In an annual survey conducted by Vault.com, New York’s Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz placed number one as the most prestigious law firm in the country. The rest of the top ten was dominated by major NY firms.
1 Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz New York, NY
2 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP New York, NY
3 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP New York, NY
4 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP New York, NY
5 Davis Polk & Wardwell New York, NY
6 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP New York, NY
7 Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton LLP New York, NY
8 Latham & Watkins LLP Los Angeles, CA
9 Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP New York, NY
10 Kirkland & Ellis LLP Chicago, IL
(From Vault.com’s 100 Most Prestigious Firms)

In a move to expand its national presence, Washington, D.C.-based firm Venable LLP has opened a new office in L.A. throught the aqcuisition of two boutiques: Gorry Meyer & Rudd L.L.P. and Whitwell Jacoby Emhoff LLP. The move brings twenty attorneys to Venable, with a total of approximately 500 firm-wide. Venable has offices in Washington, New York, Maryland, and Virginia.
Source: www.law.com

In a move contrary to the current trend, Pillsbury Winthrop is set to close its Century City, California office. Citing the office as “redundant,” Pillsbury will consolidate the attorneys and staff to its downtown L.A. location. The move comes at a time when many other firms are opening new offices in Century City in order to reduce the time their employees spend commuting.
Source: www.law.com

Washington D.C. firm Steptoe & Johnson will open a new office in Century City. The office will be seeded with four partners acquired from Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan, with plans to quickly expand to 20 attorneys and a long-term number between 40 and 50. The practice will focus on insurance, tax and commercial litigation, including intellectual property. Steptoe currently has a 20 attorney downtown L.A. office, along with locations in New York, Phoenix, Brussels, Washington, and London. Source:www.law.com

LA firms Greenberg Glusker FieldsClaman & Machtinger and Christensen, Glaser, Fink, Jacobs, Weil & Shapiro have raised their first-year associate pay. Greenber Glusker’s associates will now earn $135,000 their first year, while Christensen’s raise was undisclosed. The move comes late in comparison to most others, but the firms insist it is to meet the market and bears no relation to the current wiretapping investigations. Source:www.law.com

Kenneth Lund, managing partner of Holme Roberts & Owen, hand picks young guns from the best firms in California for his offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He entices them with flexible billing rates, shorter partnership tracks, and a chance to shift their careers into high gear. For young lawyers who appreciate the opportunities at Holme Roberts & Owen, gaining more control over their future is worth trading in on a big name. In the last three years Holme Roberts & Owen has hired 16 laterals. Five of them were partners from firms such as Heller Ehrman; Latham & Watkins; Morrison & Foerster; and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. Source: www.law.com

Los Angeles-based firm Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart, Oliver, & Hedges has raised its first-year associate salary to $145,000, matching recent New York trends. This tops the $135,000 salary currently offered by most L.A. firms, a move which Quinn hopes will maintain its ability to attract top talent. Source: www.law.com