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Our Survey Says

 

VAULT'S VERDICT

In the very large pond that is BigLaw, Davis Polk is a very big fish, and for this firm, the term “big” refers to its presence and status. As elites among elites, associates at Davis Polk are impressed by the clients and describe the work as “the most interesting and prominent” out there. The hiring process is, as one might expect, extremely competitive. Top schools and grades are the baseline, but personality and a demonstrated interest in working hard on a team give candidates the edge and get them in the door. Working at the highest level is demanding, and Davis Polk associates work long hours on challenging matters, but the level of substantive experience and market-leading compensation are attractive trade-offs. The firm doesn’t have a “work hard, play hard” culture or a reputation for being highly social, but associates still praise the firm’s polite, friendly, and professional environment; in fact, many associates feel supported in maintaining clear work-life boundaries to facilitate overall balance. To be clear, lack of partying doesn’t mean lack of engagement, and associates at Davis Polk feel valued and respected by partners (although a bit more transparency from firm leadership would be appreciated by most). The firm is not a leader in technology or wellness but keeps up with the industry. Although firm leadership is still less diverse than it could be, significant improvements have been made in hiring, and associate classes are far more diverse. Career prospects are almost blindingly bright, with equity partnership difficult but possible. Moreover, counsel roles are available, and exit opportunities are what most attorneys only dream about.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 450-4000

Firm Stats

Managing Partner: Neil Barr
Hiring Partners: Lara Samet Buchwald & Pritesh P. Shah
Total No. Attorneys (2024):
1K - 1.5K
No. of Partners Named 2024:
6

Base Salary

1st year: $225,000
2nd year: $235,000
3rd year: $260,000
4th year: $310,000
5th year: $365,000
6th year: $390,000
7th year: $420,000
8th year: $435,000
Summer Associate: $4,326.92 per week

Employment Contact

Cristóbal V. Modesto
Chief Legal Recruiting Officer
(212) 450-4144
newlawyer@davispolk.com

No. of U.S. Offices: 3

No. of International Offices: 7

Major Office Locations

New York, NY (HQ)
Northern California
Washington, DC |
Beijing
Brussels
Hong Kong
London
Madrid
São Paulo
Tokyo

Major Departments

Antitrust & Competition
Capital Markets
Corporate Governance
Derivatives and Structured Products
Environmental
Executive Compensation
Finance
Financial Institutions
FinTech
Restructuring
Intellectual Property & Technology
Investment Management
Litigation
Mergers & Acquisitions
Private Equity
Real Estate
Tax
Trusts & Estates
White Collar Criminal Defense
*See firm website for complete list of practice areas and industries.