LAWCROSSING FEATURED EMPLOYER OF THE WEEK
1. 800. 973.1177
Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker [Marty Schultz-Akerson] Among the top in many fields (and in Los Angeles’ skyline), Paul Hastings offers clients a global presence and a large stable of dedicated attorneys, all of whom are held to the highest of standards, both in the hiring process and in their jobs.
Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker has long
mercial banks.
fact that Paul Hastings attorneys have ample opportunity to surpass the 2000-billable hour
since fulfilled its Harvard-educated founders’ objective of establishing a premiere Los An-
While the firm carries specialists in a wide
minimum also speaks to the firm’s success
geles law firm. The acquisition of more space
range of legal disciplines, its most respected
at keeping ahead of a struggling economy.
in its downtown L.A. office building brought
practice groups are in corporate law, litiga-
The tradeoff between a heavy workload and
the firm naming rights and the Paul Hastings
tion, real estate, tax, and labor and employ-
financial stability is one that many lawyers
tower now shines bright for all Los Angele-
ment. In the 2005 edition of the Vault Guide to
might be willing to accept.
nos to see. The only law firm in the country
the Top 100 Firms the firm once again placed fourth in the real estate department and retained its position as the top-ranked labor and employment department in the U.S.
to have its name on a business tower, Paul Hastings is a model of growth and expansion. Don’t be fooled by its physical dominance of the Los Angeles skyline: the firm houses its
The firm frequently defends large corpora-
largest concentration of lawyers in New York
tions in class action employment suits. Some
City, and 15 world-wide offices contribute
of its most notable clients include Hughes
to its 950-strong workforce. With offices
Aircraft, Coca-Cola, and Hostess. The firm
throughout the United States, Europe, and
recently negotiated a highly favorable settle-
Asia, a Paul Hastings attorney somewhere in
ment in a case brought by African-American
the world is on the job 24 hours a day.
employees of UPS who claimed the company deprived them of advancement opportunities.
With more than 100 lawyers based in Asia, Paul Hastings is one of the best-equipped
One unique feature of its labor and employ-
international law firms in the area. Its expan-
ment practice group is the “24/7 Candid Ad-
sion into Asia actually began back in the U.S.
vice” program. As a testament to the firm’s
in the 1970s, when the firm made bold moves
commitment to retaining its dominance in
to attract Japanese clients who were expand-
the field, employment experts carry cell
ing their businesses into the U.S. After Japan
phones and wireless email devices so that
opened its doors to foreign law firms in 1987,
they may attend to clients’ questions as soon
Paul Hastings saw fecund opportunity and
as they arise. This innovative approach helps
set up its Tokyo offices the very next year.
prevent problems (and extremely costly litigation) before they happen.
Paul Hastings’ clients and areas of expertise reflect its strong reputation in the inter-
This last feature also serves as a useful
national legal and business industries. For
metaphor for what new hires can expect from
example, Paul Hastings is currently advising
working at Paul Hastings. While every office
Lehman Brothers on the purchase of $250
of this global firm undoubtedly possesses its
million in loans from Chinese Huarong
own distinct culture and social environment,
Management in connection with its disposal
hard work and dedication resound emphati-
of assets held by one of China’s largest com-
cally as firm-wide expectations. However, the
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