Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP - The Inside View

We hear time and time again here at Chambers Associate that BigLaw isn’t like it’s made out to be in the movies. Of course, we’re not suggesting that you’d be able land a job at a top law firm with no law school transcript, or that you’d receive a lawsuit and be able to settle it that very same day before going out for a lavish client meal. No – what we’re trying to get at is, what if you combined the practice of law and the entertainment industry? Let us draw back the curtains on Greenberg Glusker: an LA-based single-office star, famed for its work for A-list clients across the media & entertainment industry. Greenberg Glusker packs a punch, with Chambers USA  leaving glowing reviews for the firm’s corporate/M&A work, alongside its environment and media & entertainment litigation know-how. Further on that VIP client list, the firm collects awards in Chambers High Net Worth  for its work on private wealth disputes and private wealth law. 

The firm’s own reputation certainly doesn’t pale in comparison to its clients – at least in the BigLaw circles. “Greenberg is well known in LA,” one insider noted of their reasons for joining, “I wanted somewhere well respected here.” Credentials aside, much like on the big screen, it’s also about the experience here. “Alluding back to our culture – and our 1,750 billable target – we’re a single office with not too many rules,” managing partner Bob Baradaran tells us, “At the end of the day, what matters is the people you work with. We have a lot of people who’ve been at the firm for many years.” 

Strategy & Future 

“Based on our performance over the past few years, we are very well positioned,”  Baradaran highlights. In fact, “I get an email every month about other firms trying to get a foothold to merge or acquire us,”  Baradaran notes, but that’s something “we have no interest in.” And this should come as no surprise given the GG’s prospects for medium-term growth going forward, demonstrated by its “fantastic run of having record numbers of profitability for a long time,” as well as its longer-term aspirations. “The confidence level of our clients, especially in the past six months, has picked up. Our client base is diverse enough and we’re small enough that we’re a little insulated from the macro events,”  Baradaran assures us.

The Work 

Summers at GG are able to rotate through the firm’s various departments to gain exposure to the work carried out by the teams, as well as to meet partners and associates across the firm. Once at the firm, juniors join specific practices, and Practice Group Leaders handle work allocation, making sure that associates have a good balance of work. Insiders felt the system worked well as “as a junior, it’s very difficult to say no.” With this method, “there are measures in place not to overwork you,” an interviewee explained. One concern that can come with having a work coordinator is the level of autonomy associates have over the range of work they’re given, though insiders at GG has no such qualms: “The person who assigns work is very attuned to your interests, so for example if I needed to work on more depositions, I would get that.” 

The firm’s litigation practice covers a wide range of general commercial litigation, as well as employment, real estate development, environmental, probate, tax and banking work. The group also works on all things entertainment, including motion picture and television, music, gaming, and sports matters. Work with entertainment clients typically involves IP – both trademark and copyright. There's also some breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty work pertaining to major real estate disputes. Associates in the team feel the true effects of the firm’s lean staffing model; “You’re not a cog in a machine limited to doc review,” said one, “I take on a lot of substantive matters and there’s no shortage of step-up opportunities.” We heard of newbies taking on depositions (“if you feel comfortable!”), taking leading roles on drafting motions, and coordinating with clients (“talking to a client is never gatekept!”). Of course, “you do do your fair share of doc review, but overall, it’s very much lived up to my expectations,” a junior concluded. 

Litigation clients: Riot Games, Fox Corporation, Warner Bros. Represented Gerard Butler in relation to a suit concerning Butler’s profits from the film Olympus Has Fallen. 

GG’s corporate umbrella includes M&A, securities, licensing and distribution, financing, joint ventures, IP, tax, and employment work (to name a few). Across the subgroups, juniors contribute through carrying out due diligence, drafting disclosure schedules, assisting general counsel, and running compliance checks. As well as taking on counselling matters for clients, the employment subgroup also covers litigious work, “mostly for class actions and single plaintiff determination lawsuits.” The client base here includes the firm’s entertainment clients, as well as those in the clothing and manufacturing industries, and universities. “The clients differ and are often longstanding, so you can get a dispute from those,”  but before then, “they come in asking questions on the day to day regarding employment agreements.” 

Corporate clients: Barstool Sports, Hourglass Cosmetics, Ironman 4x4 USA. Represented Barstool Sports in the buyback of the company by its founder Dave Portnoy for just $1! 

Pro Bono 

The firm’s approach to pro bono was a big draw for our interviewees, who noted that the firm allows associates to contribute an unlimited amount towards their billable targets. “In my first year, I did a ton!” one enthused. Getting involved is made as easy as possible as associates explained, “They’re open to doing anything you pitch as pro bono.” Of course, there are also matters that firm has available for associates to take part in, stemming from its partnership with the Alliance for Children’s Rights. On such matters, associates assist with special education advocacy, adoption, and help young adults transition from foster care. The firm also takes on a number of discrimination cases, immigration asylum matters, and are partnered with the LA County Bar Association’s Domestic Violence Project. 

Pro bono hours 

• For all US attorneys: 766
• Average per US attorney: 7 

Career Development 

“There are partners and staff who have been here for over 50 years,” associates made clear first and foremost, adding, “it shows that they do care about developing you.” Typically, this development comes in the form of a good amount of client contact, given the firm’s lean staffing model, as well as numerous formal training sessions. This includes frequent litigation training on things like summary judgement and discovery, and specific corporate-focused sessions, too. “The sessions are scheduled, but take the form of a more informal conversation,” associates explained of the delivery. Incoming associates are also assigned a 'big sibling,' a more senior associate who answers any day-to-day questions they might have. They can also get career advice from their partner mentor.

Insiders were also particularly pleased with the firm’s emphasis on involving juniors in business development. “Every year, they have you put together a business development plan,” one junior outlined, explaining, “you have a monthly one-to-one meeting with someone in marketing to talk about the things you’re going to do, the people you’re meeting, and to figure out who you should be meeting. They’re open to anything you suggest that would be worth yours and the firm’s time.”  To support this venture, associates are given a marketing budget to be used on hosting meetings and making connections. “If you wanted to keep in touch with law schools, it would cover coffee and meals, or if you wanted to go to a conference, it would cover that,” an insider sampled. Partners also lend a helping hand where they can, including inviting associates to networking events. “I’ve had the opportunity to go to New York for a fashion law conference, and attended film festivals,” a junior enthused. 

Culture 

The impression from associates was that the aforementioned efforts towards career development were largely emblematic of the firm’s overall culture. “The culture is not just an exemplar of law firms, but of any corporate culture,” one insider beamed, “it’s unmatched!” Associates are expected to be in-person three times a week Tuesday through Thursday, though “they’re pretty flexible on that,” sources made clear. The firm also puts on numerous events, both in-person and virtual, which associates noted are “very well attended.” As a result, “everyone knows each other, even across departments – and even those who work fully remote from different states are well connected,” insiders praised. Alongside a daily newsletter, which includes a “make a meme competition” on Mondays, Tuesday trivia, and “wedding, birthday, and baby announcements (!),” every week, “there’s a partner who sends out a sunset photo – it’s called Sid’s Sunset Photo!” one insider laughed.  

As unique as Greenberg’s online culture is, it’s the in-person events that make “you get FOMO if you don’t go into the office.” Attorneys have a weekly happy hour on Thursday or Friday “which is just a good time to mingle with everybody,” and the firm puts on events like the annual Thanksgiving meal, monthly birthday celebrations, “and last Halloween, we split the firm into the four houses from Harry Potter!” The effort that goes into Greenberg’s numerous events doesn’t necessitate that everyone attends all the time though; “work ebbs and flows so you’re often too busy, but you don’t feel you have to always go. While not working from the office I feel both trusted to manage my time and don’t feel disconnected from the office.”  

Hours & Compensation 

Billable hours: 1,750 target 

The firm’s 1,750 billable target was described by sources as “very achievable,” especially since this includes unlimited pro bono. “That shows they value us beyond our billable work,” said one junior. Associates also praised the firm for its efforts towards helping associates maintain a work-life balance. “Boundaries are super well respected when it comes to vacations and weekends,” we heard. While there is the occasional weekend work, associates understood that, “Sometimes, inevitably, things pop up and you might need to work on the weekend, but that’s only happened a handful of times this year.” Ultimately, “there are no manufactured emergencies,” which juniors were grateful for. “It’s rare to get people emailing you over the weekend,” said one. On average, juniors reported working around 43 hours per week – just below our reported market average of 48 hours per week. 

Inclusion 

Interviewees felt the firm had made positive strides when it came to matters of inclusion. “We have a diversity committee who do a good job,” one junior told us. This includes hosting celebrations of things like Latin American history month and Black history month, arranging food events and vendors for each. GG also hosts book scholarships for 1Ls in Southern California and takes part in various pro bono partnerships for under served communities.

Coming soon...