Desmarais LLP

Our Survey Says

VAULT'S VERDICT:

If you have the chops for IP litigation, Desmarais LLP might be the perfect fit for you. This firm has a very friendly and sociable culture, with both formal firm-sponsored events and informal associate-organized events happening frequently. Partners treat associates well, and John Desmarais himself has quarterly meetings with each associate class, but there could be more transparency around the partnership track and what is required for promotion. Associates here work a lot, but the fact that they aren’t required to bill hours is universally loved. In addition, the firm pays market salaries, and the above-market bonuses aren’t tied to billable hours. Associates are given complex, substantive work early and often. The firm has a majority in-office work policy, and some technology policies make remote work a bit slow. The firm has few formal wellness programs, but associates do feel encouraged to take real, disconnected vacations. Desmarais has a very robust formal training structure, with two trial trainings each year, one for juniors and one for senior associates, and good—though slightly more haphazard—informal training. While enough associates are elevated to partnership each year to make it a realistic goal, there is not much clarity on what factors go into promotion decisions or where an associate stands in terms of the likelihood of promotion. Pro bono work is encouraged and supported with firm resources. While the firm’s current headcount is not particularly diverse, associates believe this may be a supply-side problem in IP litigation, and diverse associates feel welcomed and supported in their work here.