Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
New York, NY 10019
Phone number: (212) 728-8000
Visit Website: www.willkie.com
Summer Program: Learn More
Overview
Introduction
As an elite firm, Willkie seeks top talent—but the firm is careful to hire only those who will contribute positively to the culture. Associates rave about many aspects of the firm, but great compensation is a clear frontrunner as far as perks go. One of the New York elites, Willkie is home to more than 750 attorneys. In addition to its home in the Big Apple, the firm has offices in Chicago, DC, Houston, Palo Alto, and San Francisco, plus six locations across Europe. The firm is known for its work in antitrust, insurance, M&...
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2021)
750 - 1K
No. of Partners Named (2021)
17
Featured Rankings
Vault Law 100
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2020)
66
No. of Summer Associates (2021)
93 total (83 2Ls; 10 1Ls)
Base Salary
All offices:
Vault Verdict
To land a spot at Willkie, it’s crucial to show you are a fit—think enthusiastic and well-rounded. Simply attending a top school won’t cut it, and you’ll need to articulate “why Willkie.” The culture gets rave reviews as a friendly place where social opportunities abound but personal lives are respected. The tone starts at the top, with partners who are approachable, engaged, and caring, both professionally and personally. The firm offers frequent firmwide updates and biannual performance reviews. Associates are busy and have seen a recent uptick in work, but the lack of a billable-hours requirement alleviates some stress. And compensation receives no complaints, as Willkie pays top of market and was a leader in issuing 2021 special bonuses. There is no shortage of interesting wor...
About the Firm
One of the New York elites, Willkie is home to more than 750 attorneys. In addition to its home in the Big Apple, the firm has offices in Chicago, DC, Houston, Palo Alto, and San Francisco, plus six locations across Europe. The firm is known for its work in antitrust, insurance, M&A, private equity, restructuring, and securities litigation, among other areas.
On Broadway
In 1888, four lawyers planted roots on a little street called Broadway in New York City, naming the firm Hornblower & Byrne. Toward the end of the 19th century, the firm picked up a new name partner who would shape the next 40 years: William W. Miller. During the Miller years, the firm added attorneys of influence to its ranks (including future Supreme Court justice Felix Frankf...
2022 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “These are some of the nicest people I have ever worked with. Firm culture is our greatest strength.”
- “As a lateral attorney, I came to Willkie in part for its culture. I can only compare to my prior firm, but Willkie seems to take a kinder, more long-term approach when it comes to what keeps associates happy. That translates into a positive atmosphere, as opposed to a cynical ‘keep-your-head-down’ type firm.”
- “Everyone recognizes and respects your personal life outside of the office, whether that's family, pets, sports, etc.”
- “Willkie regularly hosts social events in both the pre- and post-COVID world. This includes events at the firmwide level as well as the practice group level. Every attorney that I have met and/or worked with has been extremely friendly and interested in helping me learn and grow as an attorney. Willkie's culture really is top-tier. I can't imagine putting in the hard work and long hours at any other firm.”
- “While we were in the office, it was extremely common for colleagues to gather in the attorney lounge, conference rooms, or the dive bar across the street to catch up and unwind. Dinners or team-bonding activities after closings/filings were standard.”
Why Work Here
At Willkie, people are our most valued asset. From the day you start at the Firm as a young lawyer, you are an integral part of the Willkie community and, whether you choose to remain here for the rest of your career or decide to move on to other endeavors, you will always be a part of the Willkie family.
There are many reasons to work at Willkie. At its simplest, our fundamental goal is to provide our attorneys with the highest-quality training, early responsibility and the opportunity to work on challenging and cutting-edge matters in a collaborative environment where people genuinely get along with each other.
Diversity at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
"Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons based solely on an individual's qualifications and merit without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity and expression, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, paternity, marital or civil partnership status, caregiver status, nationality, national origin, citizenship, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or preference, veteran's status or any other classification protected by law. The..."
Getting Hired Here
- “Willkie is not exclusive to any single candidate; however, like many elite, NYC-based firms, it draws its summer candidates predominantly from the T14 law schools plus a few key New York institutions with long connections to the firm (Fordham, St. John's). Willkie does not deny applicants based on any one criteria and often prioritizes the ‘fit’ in interviews once the candidate has shown the intellectual capacity to be successful.”
- “The firm offers guidance for those interviewing candidates, and my group makes an active effort to have candidates interview with a mix of associates and partners at various levels. Willkie does not hire from ‘feeder schools’ and is interested in bright, enthusiastic, eager candidates. My group has a mix of attorneys from several types of schools.”
- “The firm looks for people who are smart and can get the job done, but also who have a personality and a life. This is not the firm filled with anti-social people who value work over every other priority in life. There is a true balance between work and other important areas of life. Many of the hires tend to come from the routinely T14 schools, where they did well and may have participated in a journal—though lack of journal doesn't seem to be a deal-breaker. Past work experience, including past careers outside of law, also seems to be valued.”
- “The firm has no strict prerequisites and is very diverse in its hiring strategy/efforts, and this is probably what makes the firm so unique and provides the generally cordial work environment.”
Perks & Benefits
