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LAWCROSSING FEATURED EMPLOYER OF THE WEEK
O’Melveny & Myers [Joann Chang] As the nation’s 15th largest law firm and reigning recipient of the “Litigation Team of the Year” title by American Lawyer magazine, O’Melveny & Myers can offer a lot to those attorneys who can make it through its selective hiring process.
Between its corporate reputation and its
relaxed the firm, O’Melveny & Myers still
New York City-level paychecks. Summer
celebrity clients, the Los Angeles firm of
seems to be holding onto its formal roots.
associates also describe their compensation
O’Melveny & Myers seems to be in an ideal
The firm sponsors happy hours and caters
levels favorably, with trips to vineyards and
position. As the nation’s 15th largest law firm
a dining room in an effort to promote office
luncheons with Warren Christopher being
and the reigning recipient of the “Litigation
congeniality, but dress codes and the general
some of the highlights.
Team of the Year” title by American Lawyer
atmosphere are nowhere near the stereo-
magazine, the firm has come a long way
typical Los Angeles firm. Instead, associates
Jobs
from its two-lawyer start up in 1885. Current
at O’Melveny report that the environment is
Those looking to practice in one of
chairman, Arthur B. Culvahouse, who now
a mix between corporate formality and west-
O’Melveny’s 13 international offices should
fills the position once held by one of the
coast liberalism. Associates find that they
search for up-to-date opportunities within
firm’s most eminent members and former
can expect a unique combination of brutal
the LawCrossing database. Recent firm
Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, has
hours and a screamer-free environment.
needs have included a Trusts & Estates As-
firm. His ascension could be referred to as
Somewhere along graduating from a top
Attorney in New York, and an Intellectual
the Second Coming since the firm has expe-
law school and earning exceptional grades,
Property Associate in San Francisco.
rienced unparalleled growth, with revenue
O’Melveny requires its attorneys to have
breaking $500 million, behind his leadership.
developed a winning personality. Describing
sociate position in Los Angeles, a Litigation
established his own prominence within the
the firm’s hiring criteria as being tough is an Though strong in several practices such as
understatement. While known to consider
real estate and intellectual property law,
lower law schools, the firm rarely recruits
O’Melveny is best known for its litigation
law students from outside the top ten. And
department. Some of its more renowned
if getting hired was difficult, moving up the
(and successfully litigated) cases include
corporate ladder is closer to impossible. The
representing Ford Motor Company and Sony
mysterious partnership decisions seem to
Pictures. O’Melveny also has an exceptional
be based on an associate’s ability to bring
appellate practice that frequently repre-
in business as well as to provide unique
sents clients at the Supreme Court level.
expertise to the firm. Once inside however,
The litigation practice, headed by Walter
high standards mean that the chosen few
E. Dellinger, former Solicitor General and
at O’Melveny can expect intelligent and so-
Assistant Attorney General, has been invited
cially-adept co-workers.
to represent Nike CEO Philip Knight as well as former Vice President Al Gore. O’Melveny
With corporate work comes corporate
also make sure not to sever its history of Old
salaries and O’Melveny is no exception to
Hollywood ties. Its entertainment client ros-
this rule. O’Melveny associates are well-paid
ter has recently included Time, Inc., Disney,
for their sacrifices and bonuses range from
MGM, and CBS.
$5,000 to $20,000. Although the $200,000 senior associates’ salaries pale in compari-
Although its 2002 merger with New York-
son to the $1 million profit level of partners,
based private equity firm O’Sullivan LLP has
associates are generally satisfied with their
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