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In Vault's Practice Area Resource Centers, among other things, we highlight Q&As from various attorneys employed at law firms who have ranked for prestige in the relevant practice area. In this series, we will highlight some answers from attorneys at ranked firms regarding what their typical day is like working in a given practice area. Today, we feature some answers from our Antitrust Practice Area Resource Center.
Brian Byrne, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb: "I interact daily with clients, regulators, co-counsel at other firms, and expert economists. I spend a lot of time in physical or virtual meetings, and also do quite a bit of writing. Many of the clients, colleagues, and co-counsel I speak with are in California, elsewhere in the U.S., or outside of the U.S., and the key regulators are in Washington, DC, Brussels, and London. So I travel a fair amount, typically at least a couple of times per month, with a number of international trips every year. A typical day or week involves advice and counseling, as well as advocacy and negotiation at the antitrust agencies and/or in litigation."
Noah Joshua Phillips, Partner, Cravath: "Much of my time on any given workday is spent in close collaboration with clients and colleagues. There is a significant cross-disciplinary element to the antitrust work we do—we are never operating in silos when we solve problems for clients. For example, I often find myself discussing terms of a merger agreement with a corporate partner in New York and informing that discussion with an antitrust analysis I’m doing with an associate here in DC.
Working with Cravath associates, who are as smart and hardworking as they come, is one of the more gratifying elements of my job."
Sheila R. Adams James, Partner, Davis Polk: "I do not have a typical day, which is part of what I enjoy about my practice. I regularly have calls with clients to discuss strategy for a litigation or investigation. I participate in calls with opposing counsel or the government to negotiate over materials that our client needs to provide for a litigation or investigation and, in the case of a private litigant as the opposing party, what information the opposing party must provide as well. I also may interview a witness for a government investigation or conduct a witness preparation session for an upcoming deposition.
Besides my day-to-day client work, I also regularly engage in business development activities, including client dinners or presentations. I also regularly meet with more junior lawyers about their work, practice, and career goals, which is one of my favorite parts of being a partner."
Nathaniel Amann, Associate and Anna Rathbun, Partner, Latham & Watkins:
"Anna: I would describe the typical day as dynamic. I might start the day with legal research and writing, focusing on analyzing complaints or drafting motions; move into client counseling, advising on litigation strategy, and working with clients on antitrust compliance programs; and cap off the day by interacting with government regulators.
Nathaniel: My day is similarly dynamic and typically involves diving into my clients’ businesses. Comprehensively understanding how a client sees themselves and their position is paramount to being able to render effective advice, regardless of where a client may be in their dealmaking process. I also provide clients with day-to-day guidance on regulatory processes, coordinate responses to ongoing investigations (which also vary widely), and keep up with significant developments in antitrust law."
Courtney Dyer, Partner, O'Melveny: "I think my favorite part of my practice is there are no typical days. I get to learn about companies and products and competition across a wide array of industries. Some days, weeks, and months I can focus on a large strategic transaction for which I am helping to obtain regulatory clearance, but on any given day, I am also helping clients navigate complex competitive environments and achieve their growth strategies through a path that manages antitrust risk."
Scott Sher, Antitrust Global Co-Chair & Chris Wilson, Partner, Paul, Weiss:
"Scott: One of the most interesting things I do on a regular basis is talk with my clients to better understand the detailed mechanics of how their businesses operate, how they fit in and interact with other firms in the market, and what their strategic plans are going forward. We then take that information and present it in an antitrust framework to regulators at the DOJ or FTC, either through live presentations or white papers, in our efforts to convince them that the deal they are reviewing will not lead to a reduction in competition.
Chris: I focus on the day-to-day aspects of an antitrust investigation or litigation. This involves keeping the client updated on developments, making tactical calls, and doing final reviews of letters or briefs. I would say that I typically spend half my day on the phone in various meetings, while the other half of my day is spent reviewing and marking up final-draft work product. I also set aside time to answer associates’ questions and provide feedback on their work."
Kristin Sanford, Partner, Weil: "A large part of being a good lawyer is doing lots of research. We find information from precedent, agencies and courts, and client documents. We also speak to our clients to determine what they care about, what their goals are, and how to develop the best plan to support them.
Another significant part of my day is spent investing in the firm and my team, whether that be engaging with mentees and giving feedback to my team, working on pro bono matters, or going to recruiting events to connect with candidates."
J. Frank Hogue, Partner, White & Case: "As a litigator, every day is different. In one case, you may be working on a summary judgment motion. In another, you may be preparing for a deposition or important court hearing. In yet another, you could be speaking with a client’s employees to understand how they work. There are economists to consult, cases to read, and important legal developments to track."
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