 |
||
|
|
||
| |||||||||||
It's rainy in Seattle Seattle. Gates. Seattle. Gates. Get it? The Gates in Preston Gates & Ellis refers to none other than Bill Gates' daddy, William H. Gates. Talk about rainmaking! This Seattle mainstay has been around for far longer than Microsoft, however, and while the perhaps soon-to-be split software company is the firm's largest client, it only accounts for about 10 percent of the firm's total billing. Old faithful in Seattle Preston Gates & Ellis, Seattle's oldest continuously operating firm, can trace its family tree back to 1883, when 25-year old Harold Preston, fresh from the cornfields of Iowa, arrived in Seattle to hang out his shingle. Preston would become a major force in Washington politics, even drafting the state's first workers' compensation law in 1911. In 1990 a new chapter in the firm's history began when the firm merged with another Seattle-based firm, 63-year-old Shidler, McBroom, Gates & Lewis. Shidler, McBroom brought into the deal alumni including a former State Supreme Court Justice and more importantly, a client list that included a certain software company. In 2000 the firm counts almost 350 lawyers practicing throughout five states, Washington, D.C., and Hong Kong. L.A. office reshuffles the deck In June 2000, Preston Gates announced that its Los Angeles office would undergo a change in business strategy, abandoning several practice areas in order to focus on technology-oriented litigation. Opened in 1994, the 20-lawyer office dropped its environmental, general litigation, business, and public finance practices. While the the office's 12 associates will remain, five to six partners - including environmental lawyer David Sadwick, the managing partner of the office - were expected to leave at the time of the announcement. "Big Bill" and Microsoft William H. Gates, Bill Gates' father, was a well-known Seattle resident before his son became the richest man in the world. "Big Bill," as his friends call him, was president of the State Bar Association as well as an active participant in Seattle civil life and the Republican party. While the senior Gates, now retired, was the most visible lawyer at the firm, he never involved himself with the Microsoft account. These days Microsoft keeps the firm busy. Along with Sullivan & Cromwell, Preston Gates attorneys helped the computer giant battle a private antitrust suit brought by Caldera, Inc. Caldera claimed Microsoft prevented Caldera's development of a potential competitor of Microsoft's MS-DOS operating system. The two sides settled the suit in January 2000. Bond work A large percentage of Preston Gates & Ellis' practice is bond work. In fact, the firm does more bond work than any other firm in Washington. PG&E has served as bond counsel to clients ranging from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to the Seattle Mariners. The firm was involved in the 1999 bond financing of the Mariners' new stadium, the beautifully named Safeco Field. Lobbying love Preston has also attracted considerable notice for its Federal/Regulatory/Legislative practice, which offers a variety of services including direct lobbying, monitoring legislative activities, drafting legislation, representing clients in congressional and executive branch investigations, and organizing grassroots and constituent support. In 1999 the firm's Washington, DC office was ranked among the top five firms in terms of lobbying revenues. While the group pulls in plentiful fees, the PR hasn't always been terrific. The firm drew criticism for its lobbying on behalf of The Northern Marianas Islands, a South Pacific U.S. territory with no member in Congress. Hired by the Northern Marianas to fight proposals in Congress to extend U.S. minimum wage and immigration laws to the territory, the firm was blasted by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, who accused the firm of orchestrating "a massive campaign of intimidation" against federal officials seeking to clean up the territory's unsavory working conditions.
Choosy Northwesterners "For a native Northwest firm, we are very selective," reports a Preston Gates insider. Another notes that "the hiring committee has very high standards for law school, grades, and writing ability." Indeed, the firm recruits at all the top-tier schools, as well as major law schools throughout the Northwest, including University of Washington, Seattle University, and University of Oregon. After meeting with either the recruiting manager or a member of the hiring committee, "students invited for call-back interviews meet seven to 10 attorneys from a range of departments." Candidates can also expect to be treated to lunch or dinner at one of "Seattle's most enjoyable restaurants." But these chosen ones should be on their best behavior - the hiring committee is watching. Laterals ease in According to the firm, "candidates are evaluated and rated in the following areas: intellect, traits befitting an attorney, personality, and compatibility with the firm's needs." (There is no swimsuit competition.) While the competition for first-year associate positions at the firm is fierce, many laterals have had a much easier time getting hired. One transfer elaborates, "I had a very difficult time trying to get a job here while I was in law school. However, once I had been in practice in a specialty that was needed by the firm, I had no trouble. Timing was everything."
An almost matchless reputation Associates point out that in the Pacific Northwest, Preston Gates & Ellis' reputation is pristine. One declares, "It is the oldest firm in Seattle and it has represented Microsoft for most of Microsoft's lifetime. The fact that the partners at the firm have been doing large-scale transactions for many years puts them in a league above any other Seattle law firm." Attorneys in the firm feel the reputation is for the most part justified. The firm creates a "casual atmosphere full of incredibly smart, experienced attorneys," reports one. Many note that Preston is "very big on process and fairness. It is striving to maintain a balance between working hard and having a life." A third-year associate indicates that change is in the air: "The firm was previously very committed to municipal and government service - the culture now is leaning toward the dot com and IPO attitude of fast action and fast money." Another points out that the firm's future culture is to some extent "up for grabs. As we grow rapidly, there will be tension between those motivated by cash and those motivated by other values." Precious Preston pay While Preston Gates has not matched the salary raises set by Gunderson, associates are nevertheless content with the salary raise the firm gave in 2000. First-year associates receive a base salary of $100,000. The Seattle office has a billable hour target of 1,800 hours and the firm gives out productivity bonuses at 1,900, 2,000, and 2,100 billable hours. An associate reports, "The salaries here are extremely competitive, especially given the billable hours requirement. The bonus compensation plan is aggressive, although as currently structured it does not fairly compensate laterals on a pro rata basis for fractional years." Live well, work here Attorneys at PG&E reveal that while there is pressure to bill a lot of hours, "this firm is very committed to quality of life." A lateral continues, "In comparison to my stint at a large Manhattan firm, the hours here are very livable." Indeed, many characterize the firm's billable target of 1,800 to 2,000 hours per year as very reasonable. A third-year attorney relates his schedule to Vault.com: "I have been billing about 40-55 hours per week. I usually work from about 8 a.m. to 7 p.m." It is not overwhelming work, therefore, that causes turnover at the firm. Retention of attorneys is nevertheless an issue at Preston Gates & Ellis, especially considering the fact that the firm is located in tech mecca Seattle. While attorneys do leave, a first-year observes that "people rarely leave for other firms. Rather, they go in-house, often at a dot com startup." Another associate elaborates that "every month or so you hear about another associate leaving to go in-house. I haven't really heard of associates leaving for other firms." Make me a partner Associates say chances of making partner are very good. "The partnership track is six to nine years generally." Indeed, many note that the "firm still subscribes to the policy that every new associate is intended to be a partner." A second-year explains that the "general expectation is that everyone who starts here will make partner if they stick it out." Furthermore, while the track is six to nine years, the "average is seven years, and this year a fifth- and sixth-year were both made partner." One complaint made by a senior associate is that while partners generally provide "pretty good feedback at annual evaluation about chances for partnership, they do not give much information on when a decision will be made." However, an environmental attorney states that there is little reason to worry: "I cannot remember any associate being let go since 1994 or 1995, but lots of folks decide that firm life is not for them and so bail of their own accord. Those small numbers who stay stand a very good chance of becoming partner." Looking out at the mountains and Puget Sound PG&E's Seattle office offers a "great view" with "terrible decor." A third-year notes that the "high floors of the Bank of America Tower have stellar views of the Puget Sound, the Cascade Mountains and the Olympic Mountains." Another Seattle-ite describes his office as "comfortable but unattractive." One widespread complaint is of outdated, uncomfortable furniture. One source notes, "I think eventually I will become a hunchback. The furniture is terrible!" Many wait hopefully for the "new office space expected in two or three years" and pray for better furniture, as well as cutting-edge high tech equipment. Impressive women, looking for minorities When questioned about women's issues, associates cite "an impressive number of women partners, including women on the executive committee, department chairs and branch directors." One source reports that "several department heads have been or are women. Part-time is possible but sometimes has been an issue." A seventh-year points out that the firm has problems with retention of women: "We've lost a lot of new mothers to other places or to stay at home, but it is something the firm seems genuinely interested in addressing." When addressing issues with respect to minorities, attorneys state simply that "unfortunately, we are a very white firm" and the firm "needs more effort to attract minorities." However, gay attorneys seem to find the firm "very welcoming." A Prestonite states that the firm is home to "a large number of openly gay attorneys and staff." Another reports, "We continue to make progress in this area. In 1993 I would have given us a much lower mark on this."
Kristine Immordino Manager, Legal Recruiting and Development More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
