Sidley, Austin, Brown & Wood, L.L.P. > Firm Details

Cook
One South Dearborn, 
Chicago, Illinois - 60603



http://www.sidley.com



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Staff Size : 475

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About Firm

Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, LLP, changed its name to Sidley Austin, LLP, in January 2006. It has a strong and highly regarded practice in litigation, regulatory, corporate, and general banking areas. A preeminent international law firm, its client list is a source of envy for peers. Associates at this huge international firm are generally given immediate client contact and often run their own conference calls, but not without supervision. Pro bono work is encouraged and is credited as billable hours. The firm’s clients include Fortune 100 and 500 companies in a wide array of industries and business sectors, governments, banks, insurance and financial institutions, professional firms, foundations, institutions, associations, and individuals. In addition to corporate and finance matters, the firm’s strong practice groups include litigation, real estate, commercial, intellectual property, tax, securities, antitrust, environmental, trusts & estates, healthcare, and bankruptcy.

Firm location	1st Year	2nd year	3rd Year	4th Year	5th Year	6th Year	7th Year	8th Year	Summer Associate
All U.S. offices except New York	$135,000	$145,000	$160,000	$175,000	$195,000	$205,000	$210,000	N/A	$2,600/week
New York	$145,000	$155,000	$170,000	$190,000	$210,000	$220,000-$225,000	$230,000-$240,000	N/A	$2,800/week

 


+ rate for real survey + rate for fun survey

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New York 

Overall Review:  Sidley NYC is an odd place. Generally, it is a good place to work, if you are in the right practice group. However, there are some culture mismatches between the ascendant Sidley veterans and the Brown & Wood legacies. The recent name change is evidence of such--it was supposed to happen in 2003 but the B&W alums put up enough institutional resistance to push it back to 2006.

The Securitization group is very well regarded, but tends to be a mill for young associates without much clear direction. Public Finance is pretty quiet. Environmental is small. Tax is very good--tough to get in without experience or an NYU (or comp school) LLM. Real Estate is very NY-focused, but is generally busy. M&A is, like most firms, a pretty tough place, but they have VERY SMART partners (NOTE: I do not do M&A but have friends who do and hear a great deal about it). The Investment Products Group is pretty big--lots of hedge fund stuff. Litigation is very busy and, like most places, full of egocentric partners (not all, but a good number).

-BigCityLaw

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Dallas 

Firm Culture:  average
Work & Hours: 8
Salary & Benefits:  good
The Interview process:  average
Overall Impression:  nice

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New York 

Firm Culture:  good
Work & Hours: 9
Salary & Benefits:  good
The Interview process:  tough
Overall Impression:  excellent

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For every category, 1 is the worst possible and 10 is the best possible answer.

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Carter Phillips Named First Recipient of Lewis F. Powell Award for Business Advocacy

09-10-2007

Carter Phillips received the inaugural Lewis F. Powell Award for Business Advocacy given by the National Chamber Litigation Center (NCLC), the public policy law firm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, at its 30th anniversary gala reception and dinner on Monday, September 10th. Phillips, head of Sidley’s Appellate Practice and a long-time supporter of the Litigation Center, was the night’s honoree. The Honorable Paul D. Clement, Solicitor General of the United States, was the keynote speaker.

The Lewis F. Powell Award for Business Advocacy, which will periodically be bestowed on an individual or corporation that best exemplifies a commitment to improving the litigation environment for the business community, is named in honor of Justice Powell, who played a critical role in the formation of the National Chamber Litigation Center.

“I am humbled by this recognition,” said Phillips. “The Chamber is such a responsible voice for the business community and the idea of receiving an award in the name of a Justice for whom I have the highest regard and respect is an honor that touches me deeply.”

Robin Conrad, Executive Vice President of the National Chamber Litigation Center said, “As a long-time friend of the business community and a champion of a wide array of important business issues, Carter is a perfect choice for this award. It is a great honor for us to present him with the first Lewis F. Powell Award for Business Advocacy.”

NCLC plays a major role in shaping public policy on issues of national concern to American business while achieving long-range improvements in the legal system. Over its 30 year history, NCLC has initiated landmark cases on issues as diverse as striker replacement, corporate free speech, and overreaching environmental and corporate governance regulations and is particularly renowned for its work reining in abusive class actions and excessive punitive damages.

Since joining Sidley, Phillips has argued 45 cases before the Supreme Court, for a career total of 54 appearances, as well as numerous cases in the courts of appeals. He served as a law clerk to both Judge Robert Sprecher on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and Chief Justice Warren E. Burger on the United States Supreme Court. Prior to joining Sidley, Mr. Phillips served as Assistant to the Solicitor General for three years, during which time he argued nine cases on behalf of the federal government in the United States Supreme Court. In 2006, Phillips was named one of the “Top 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” as chosen by The National Law Journal. The NLJ also named him a runner-up for its 2006 "Lawyer of the Year", saying that in 2006 he “became the 'go-to' attorney for corporations seeking Supreme Court relief, further elevating his stature within the small, but highly skilled, Supreme Court bar."

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Sidley Named to “Best Law Firms for Women” By Working Mother & Flex-Time Lawyers

08-14-2007

Sidley Austin LLP has been named to the 2007 Working Mother & Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women. The firm is among a total of 50 law firms selected by Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers, a national consulting firm advising lawyers and legal employers on work-life balance and the retention and advancement of women.

This is the inaugural year that Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers have joined forces to compile the “Best Law Firms for Women” list. The 50 winning firms were selected based on their responses to an application measuring six areas of importance: workforce profile, benefits and compensation, parental leave, child care, flexibility and retention and advancement of women.

Sidley’s inclusion on the list was based on its long-standing commitment to the recruitment, retention and promotion of women. The firm’s formal initiative to provide a work environment that fosters the establishment and development of women’s legal careers began in 1998, and its Committee on Retention and Promotion of Women was established to ensure sustained diversity efforts. In 2005, Sidley became the second law firm to win the Catalyst Award, from the leading research and advisory organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for women and business.

“A better place to work for women means a better place for all our colleagues,” commented Thomas A. Cole, Chairman of Sidley’s Executive Committee. “We are certainly gratified to be recognized as a Best Law Firm for Women, because we truly believe we are.”

Currently, Sidley has more than 600 women lawyers and 125 women partners. Many have taken advantage of the firmwide reduced hours policy, which enables lawyers, at both the associate and partner levels, to work a flexible schedule.

“There is no set formula for balancing work and family and no single definition of success for the working mother,” said Laurin Blumenthal Kleiman, firmwide co-chair of Sidley’s Committee on Retention and Promotion of Women. “Thanks to a supportive climate and strong mentors, Sidley women – particularly those with families – are empowered to build a career that works best for them.”

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Affirmative Action, Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Employment Discrimination, General Litigation, Insurance Law, International Finance, Leasing, Patent Litigation, Patent Prosecution, Real Estate Law, Secured Lending, Securities Litigation, Securitization, Sexual Harassment.

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