The Definitive Thread on NC Law Firms Forum
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Anonymous User
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Re: The Definitive Thread on NC Law Firms
It’s been a while since this thread was updated, any major changes in the North Carolina legal market with the state’s continued growth over the last few years?
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trmckenz
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Re: The Definitive Thread on NC Law Firms
Charlotte has grown but the Kirklands and Lathams aren't here yet. It's hard to imagine Charlotte clients paying premium rates right now. Maybe things will change if/when M&A heats back up again.
It's not an exhaustive list, but the market-paying firms in Charlotte are at least Alston & Bird, King & Spalding, Mayer Brown, Holland and Knight, Cadwalader, Haynes and Boone, etc. I am sure there are others too, typically small satellite offices for finance practices.
The tier paying just below that includes MVA, Robinson Bradshaw, Womble, Parker Poe, McGuireWoods, K&L Gates, Bradley, etc. There may be more nuance at the local/regional firm level, but these are the biggest ones.
The Triangle has certainly grown in population along with Charlotte but doesn't have the same institutional client base. I can see things improving as big tech becomes more aware of RTP's benefits. Law firm-wise Smith Anderson remains the clear market leader; they are on the local/regional payscale but solid like MVA/RB. Raleigh offices are usually much smaller than their Charlotte counterparts.
It's not an exhaustive list, but the market-paying firms in Charlotte are at least Alston & Bird, King & Spalding, Mayer Brown, Holland and Knight, Cadwalader, Haynes and Boone, etc. I am sure there are others too, typically small satellite offices for finance practices.
The tier paying just below that includes MVA, Robinson Bradshaw, Womble, Parker Poe, McGuireWoods, K&L Gates, Bradley, etc. There may be more nuance at the local/regional firm level, but these are the biggest ones.
The Triangle has certainly grown in population along with Charlotte but doesn't have the same institutional client base. I can see things improving as big tech becomes more aware of RTP's benefits. Law firm-wise Smith Anderson remains the clear market leader; they are on the local/regional payscale but solid like MVA/RB. Raleigh offices are usually much smaller than their Charlotte counterparts.
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godeacs
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Re: The Definitive Thread on NC Law Firms
Do you get the sense that there's a big difference in pay between the below-market-paying regional biglaw firms (McGuireWoods, K&L Gates, Bradley, etc.) and the top midlaw firms (RBH, MVA, Parker Poe, etc.)? If not, then why would anyone take a job at the former over an offer at the latter, which supposedly have such better career outlook and work-life balance? Maybe there is a big gap in exit opportunities in-house, or it's much harder to lateral to one of the biglaw firms mid-career out of an RBH/MVA?
