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LAWCROSSING FEATURED EMPLOYER OF THE WEEK
Jones Day [Jefferson Byrd] Jones Day bears the distinction of being one of the only Cleveland-based law firms with a predominant global presence, but the firm is also distinguished by its stellar corporate practice.
Founded in Cleveland in 1893, Jones Day
The Chicago and Washington offices oversaw
first year at Jones Day, all compensation is
is still headquartered in Cleveland, though
the $8 billion merger of Chicago’s Unicom
merit-based.
not in the traditional sense. Since the firm
and Pennsylvania’s Peco Energy Company,
streamlined its name, dropping the Reavis
which created the country’s largest electric
Unlike many of its competitors, Jones Day
& Pogue that had adorned its masthead
company. Building up a formidable antitrust
does not discount attorneys without creden-
since 1974, the firm’s managing partner has
practice, the firm handled antitrust issues
tials from a top-tier law school. Candidates
stayed in New York City. Despite these recent
for the $160 billion merger between AOL and
from other schools still have a fighting
changes, Jones Day remains a firm steeped
Time Warner, and also for AOL’s acquisition
chance to secure a position with the firm,
in tradition and respectful of its history.
of Netscape.
although grades are still a crucial factor. The
Jones Day built its reputation through alli-
In 2000, Richard Cieri, head of Jones Day’s
casual. A prospective associate will engage
ances to Cleveland’s manufacturing industry,
bankruptcy department, represented health
in a series of chats, designed to weed out the
still retaining many of those clients today.
care giant Allegheny Health’s Chapter 11
arrogant and headstrong. The partners at
It wasn’t until the 1980s that Jones Day
bankruptcy hearings. He managed to ink a
Jones Day want to dispel the notion that their
began to expand rapidly to Dallas, New York,
deal that allowed the company to retain its
firm is too harsh and demanding. As befits a
Chicago, and Atlanta. The firm now has more
assets. Cieri became the first bankruptcy
conservative firm, a strict dress code must
than 25 branch offices in London, Paris,
lawyer to earn a spot on American Lawyer’s
be maintained, although in the Dallas and
Madrid, Hong Kong, Beijing, and associate
list of the industry’s top ten deal makers.
California offices, the rule calls for year-
offices in India. Continuing its expansion,
Jones Day has also developed a powerful liti-
round business casual. New associates to
last year Jones Day opened a biotechnology
gation department. Taking up several states’
Jones Day are presented with the opportu-
and IP practice in Munich; new offices for
rights cases, Jones Day undertook the unen-
nity to participate in the impressive training
its growing Columbus, Houston, and Atlanta
viable task of successfully arguing against
programs.
branches; and announced plans for a second
the Americans With Disabilities Act and the
branch in China.
Violence Against Women Act on behalf of the
Once on board, associates are expected
state of Alabama.
to put in long hours, though billable hour
interviewing process is reportedly calm and
Representing over half of the companies in
requirements vary from office to office.
the Fortune 500, Jones Day’s roster of clients
The firm’s leadership is concentrated in a
Pittsburgh associates might be working 55-
reads like a Who’s Who of American busi-
managing partner who wields the power of a
hour weeks, while attorneys in the Cleveland
ness: General Motors, RJR Nabisco, Amazon.
CEO. The managing partner has sole discre-
office put in 90-hour weeks.
com, Eastman Kodak, PepsiCo, Pfizer, and
tion on matters pertaining to partnership,
even the San Jose Sharks.
new offices, compensation and the selec-
Jobs
tion of his or her successor. This business The firm’s business practice is immense.
model has proven successful. The firm ranks
Jones Day currently has several openings
A survey among Fortune 1000 corporations
among the top ten revenue-producing law
in its New York, Pittsburgh, and London
rated Jones Day first in client service. The
firms in the country. Jones Day is worth over
offices, including opportunities for experi-
firm topped Corporate Board Member’s list
$600 million, but they remain tight-lipped
enced litigation and other associates. More
of America’s best corporate lawyers, and
about finances. Refusing to disclose financial
information regarding attorney positions at
Thomson Financial ranked Jones Day as number one in M&A in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
information, the firm will not even allow
Jones Day can be found in the LawCrossing
discussions of associate salaries. After the
job database.
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