If it’s quintessential BigLaw you’re looking for, move along. Government contracts powerhouse Crowell & Moring is BigLaw with a difference.
Crowell & Moring is one of the country’s premier government contracts firms. Over the course of the four decades it’s been around, Crowell has established “a preeminent position in regulatory work,” says managing partner Phil Inglima. Chambers USA has bestowed the firm with the highest possible ranking for government contracts work for the past 14 years (longer than any of the four other highest-ranked firms in this area). Crowell also gets high national rankings for its work in climate change, insurance dispute resolution and international trade, while its environment, healthcare and insurance practices are all highly ranked in the DC market as well.
Beyond the DC HQ, Crowell has four more US offices in New York, San Francisco, LA, and Orange County, plus international outposts in Brussels, London, Shanghai, and most recently Doha (the firm also has an affiliation in Singapore).
View the firm's Chambers USA rankings here>>
Associates say…
“Crowell cares about its employees' wellbeing. They provide the work-life balance necessary to work at a firm for the long term."
"It's the best government contracts firm with the nicest people."
Strategic recruitment focuses 2022
Antitrust
Antitrust clients: AT&T, Marriott International, United Airlines, Raytheon Technologies, Humana
Recent highlight: Crowell advised on the antitrust aspects of the $1.2 billion merger of AT&T’s Crunchyroll with Sony’s Funimation (both are anime streaming services).
Corporate
Corporate clients: Integrated BioTherapeutics, National Veterinary Association, Reinet Investments, TT Electronics
Recent highlight: The firm handled multiple acquisitions on behalf of National Veterinary Association, including PetWell Partners and Kirkwood Animal Hospital.
Litigation
Litigation clients: Blue Cross Blue Shield, General Motors, Howard University, Howmet Aerospace
Recent highlight: The firm is representing victims of terrorist attacks against US Embassies overseas, as well as victims of the 9/11 attacks, in claims against Iran under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.
IP
IP clients: Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Cook Medical, Michigan State University, PureShield, ViaClean Technologies
Recent highlight: Defended KVH, a manufacturer of electronic communications products, in a patent infringement suit filed by Hydro Net.
Healthcare
Healthcare clients: UnitedHealth Group, University of California, Cardinal Health
Recent highlight: The firm acted for Humana in a lawsuit brought by North Vista Hospital, which claimed that it was entitled to millions of dollars in fees from Humana despite breaches of contract by the hospital.
Career development & the path to partnership
|
8 |
1 : 0.9 |
18% |
||
|
partners made in 2020 |
associate : partner |
of junior associates intend to make partner |
||
|
97% |
88% |
70% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with children | strongly agreed the firm’s name adds value to their resume | agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
The view from the firm: In-house training programs; external firm-paid seminars; internal seminars and programming, continuing legal education (CLE); organized/formal mentor program; trial advocacy training; observation opportunities; practice group training; retreats; and coaching/mentoring program, sponsorship and leadership programs, online learning modules (ex. LinkedIn Learning).
Hours & compensation
|
2,000 |
12 |
51 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took |
average number of hours associates worked |
|
70% |
43% |
48% |
| agreed they had a good work-life balance |
said the benefits package makes the workload worthwhile |
found the bonus allocation fair and transparent |
Salaries
1st year: $205,000
2nd year: $215,000
3rd year: $240,000
4th year: $275,000
5th year: $305,000
6th year: $330,000
7th year: $350,000
8th year: $365,000
The view from the firm: The firm offers two primary compensation tracks for promotion track associates as well as non-traditional schedules for attorneys who look to work towards non-standard hours targets, called balanced hours schedules. The starting salaries for associates with a 2,000 billable hours target is $205,000. For associates with a 1,900 billable target, the starting salary is $185,000. Bonuses for promotion track associates are lockstep and market-based and factor hours billed, quality of work, and non-billable contributions. Balanced hours attorneys' salaries are prorated based on the hour target selected. Our professional track associates are attorneys who are not on our partner promotion track but who practice within our practice groups and contribute to the firm in a variety of ways. Their salaries are individually set and are based primarily on billing rates. Bonuses for our professional track associates are discretionary and competitive with our peers. Billable equivalent credit is provided for pro-bono and DEI activities.
Is Crowell & Moring the right firm for you?
|
91% |
92% |
91% |
|
said they’d chosen the right firm |
were happy in their current role |
felt comfortable being themselves |
The view from the firm: The firm looks for highly qualified, entrepreneurial candidates with diverse backgrounds. Candidates must have excellent academic credentials and strong writing skills. We prefer candidates with law review, law journal, or moot court experience, and strong relevant legal employment experience, including judicial clerkships and demonstrated leadership capabilities.
What stood out about the firm's culture when you joined?
“Collegiality across practice groups - I feel like I have friends across the firm, across office, across practice groups. If you get involved as an associate, it would be hard to feel siloed at Crowell.”
“Investment in junior attorneys; opportunities for success; transparency from management about firm finances.”
Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing
|
83% |
74% |
29% |
31% |
||
|
reported strong performance in inclusivity training |
reported strong mentoring from diverse role models |
of partners are women |
identify as ethnically diverse |
||
The view from the firm: Crowell takes a talent development approach to our DEI initiative, focusing on providing meaningful opportunities to attorneys at all levels within the firm. We strive maintain a strong talent pipeline where all individuals have meaningful opportunities to grow, develop, and be promoted. In addition to many diversity, equity, and inclusion topics, we continue to focus on topics and initiatives such as intersectionality and allyship; continuing support of our affinity groups, particularly around client engagement, relationship building, and sponsorship; expanding and our talent pipeline by reimagining our participation in the Mansfield Rule – of which we are 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 certified; and setting clear, measurable diversity goals for our leadership and pipeline ranks.
Pro bono
|
74 |
91% |
|
average pro bono |
found the pro bono |
The view from the firm: Our firm is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of people in our communities through pro bono work. The firm’s work ranges from representation of the homeless, immigrants, and indigent criminal defendants to assisting domestic violence victims in obtaining protection orders to voting rights litigation. In 2020, the firm launched a Racial Justice Pro Bono Task Force and committed to providing $1 million in pro bono legal services to advance racial equity and justice by focusing on four primary areas: police misconduct; voting rights; ending mass incarceration; and socioeconomic equality. We are proud to have more than doubled the value of our pledge.
Sustainability and CSR
The view from the firm: Crowell applies a holistic approach to its sustainable procurement activities. We collaborate with our vendors, suppliers and subcontractors to create relationships and alliances to help us ensure we comply with all applicable legislation and regulations. Crowell & Moring expects its vendors, suppliers and subcontractors to recognize the importance of sustainable procurement activities and environmental management and to implement the necessary practices to create value for all parties involved. Crowell & Moring’s Sustainable Procurement Guidelines are built on three key principles: transparency, compliance and quality assurance.
Contact
See opportunities at the firm here>>
Recruitment contacts: LRecruiting@crowell.com