From Allen & Over-the-pond, this magic circle member is planting seeds to take the US legal market by storm.
Allen & Overy Lateral Profile 2023
*In May 2023, Allen & Overy announced its plans to merge with Wall Street finance firm Shearman & Sterling. Read more about the news here.*
The firm’s US presence covers six offices spread across Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and DC. These six offices alone garner the firm 21 Chambers USA rankings, most notably for national corporate crime & investigations and agency financing expertise. The firm’s nationwide capital markets securitization, derivatives, environmental, PPP (public-private partnership) projects, and renewables work also receive high praise. And we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface on A&O’s prowess. In Chambers Global, the firm receives just shy of 300 rankings across a multitude of jurisdictions. Most notable is its work in banking & finance, capital markets, dispute resolution, projects & energy, and tax. Head over to chambers.com for the full list (and if you’ve got an afternoon to spare…).
View the firm’s Chambers USA rankings
Read the firm’s Inside View feature on junior associate life
Why did you join your firm? Associates say…
“The global presence and professionalism of the attorneys drew me to A&O.”
“For its cross-border practice and cutting-edge transactions.”
“I chose the firm to join an enterprising new group that would allow me to specialize more than my previous firm. I was also attracted to the size and resources of the firm and its unique global footprint that encourages cross-border collaboration between offices.”
Strategic Recruitment Focuses 2023
Corporate careers
The view from the firm: Allen & Overy’s leading U.S. Corporate practice routinely advises clients on their largest and most complex U.S. public and private transactions. We focus on representing multinational corporate clients such as Associated British Foods, Bridgepoint, EQT Partners, Google, Mubdala, Novartis, SAP and many more. We are able to provide expertise and scope that most U.S. law firms simply cannot match, with a consistently high level of service ensuring our clients return to us time and time again for their most important deals.
Recent work highlight: Advised Singaporean cryptocurrency trading company Altonomy on the sale of its over-the-counter and trade execution business subsidiary to Blockchain.com.
IP litigation careers
The view from the firm: The firm’s IP Litigation practice provides legal services to household names in their most complex matters, including patent litigation and trade secrets disputes. Our practice litigates in the ITC, the ICC, the PTAB, the Federal Circuit and district courts. We have successfully litigated hundreds of patent cases in key patent venues, including California, Texas, Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania. Clients include leaders such as Meta (f/k/a Facebook), Google, Block and Walmart.
Recent work highlight: Represented Google in a series of trials before the International Trade Commission relating to Section 337 investigations to do with the importation and sale of Google's Nest Smart Thermostats.
Infrastructure & energy project finance careers
The view from the firm: Allen & Overy is widely regarded as one of the best infrastructure and energy project finance legal advisors globally, including in the United States. Our award-winning Projects Energy Natural Resources and Infrastructure (“PENRI”) team has been named ‘Global Legal Advisor of the Year’, and a No. 1 advisor for 19 infrastructure finance and project finance categories. Allen & Overy has acted as counsel to infrastructure and energy fund investors, developers, strategic and other equity sponsors, public agencies and lenders in projects in multiple U.S. jurisdictions and across various sectors, including transportation, traditional and renewable energy, water, social infrastructure and telecommunications. We are well equipped to anticipate and devise pragmatic and workable solutions to all of the issues that may arise in all types of project transactions by taking into account the perspective of all parties involved and all aspects of the project life cycle.
Recent energy work highlight: Filed a petition at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on behalf of renewable energy manufacturer NineDot Energy in relation to various federal energy regulations.
Funds & asset management careers
The view from the firm: Allen & Overy is a full service global law firm advising the world’s leading companies on a wide range of matters focused on market-leading funds and asset management, our practice for which provides a full-service offering to institutional investors and fund manager clients. With asset management, tax and regulatory professionals in all of the major financial centers, our local knowledge, global coverage and responsiveness are second to none. Our practice has been established for over 27 years in this area and continues to grow. Our team advise on the structuring, establishment as well as the investments made into alternative funds. Our team also advise on a wide range of regulatory developments and, unlike most firms, we have developed all our funds and asset management lawyers with a “regulatory DNA”. Our tax specialists work closely with our team and have extensive experience advising on AIF tax structuring issues and the latest regulatory developments facing fund managers.
International & Secondment Opportunities
Client secondment opportunities (view from the firm): We work closely with our clients both in the U.S. and abroad for secondment opportunities for our associates.
Overseas career development opportunities (view from the firm): A&O associates have the opportunity to tap into our Global Network with cross-office secondments.
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
4 |
2.5 : 1 |
21% |
||
|
partners made in 2022 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
64% |
39% |
87% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with children | felt partnership was achievable at the firm | agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
The view from the firm: A&O offers a comprehensive mentoring program; professional development training; integration plans for newly elected partners.
Hours & Compensation
|
no requirement |
13.6 |
49.3 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
71% |
57% |
77% |
| 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: $215,000
2nd year: $225,000
3rd year: $250,000
4th year: $295,000
5th year: $345,000
6th year: $370,000
7th year: $400,000
8th year: $415,000
Is A&O the right firm for you?
|
94% |
100% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work is interesting |
The view from the firm: We work to attract and retain the very best people – and we support them to build their future with us. We foster a working environment based on collaboration and mutual respect, where everyone is trusted to do their very best work in the way they see fit, to a standard we all share. We aim to make progress by harnessing our differences, which is why diversity, equity and inclusion are some of our strategic priorities. We’re committed to supporting a culture that drives inclusion.
We asked survey respondents what stands out about the firm's culture?
“The professionalism of the attorneys and the diversity of thought resulting from the firm's global presence.”
“The firm is collaborative. It does not have an eat what you kill model.”
“Great people and promising growing path.”
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
|
77% |
23% |
44% |
||
|
reported strong performance in inclusivity training |
of partners are women |
of associates identify as ethnically diverse |
||
Pro Bono
|
30.5 |
77% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm is committed to pro bono |
Pro bono highlights: IRAP; Immigration Equality; Cyrus R. Vance Center; Election Protection/LCCRUL; VOLS (Volunteers of Legal Service); Lawyers Alliance
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: US_lateral_recruitment@allenovery.com