O’Melveny Takes Top Spot in The American Lawyer’s Midlevel Associates Survey
August 24, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Latest Accolade Continues Remarkable Sweep of Industry Awards
NEW YORK—August 24, 2020—O’Melveny is ranked #1 for associate satisfaction in The American Lawyer’s 2020 Midlevel Associates Survey of more than 70 law firms nationwide.
AmLaw annually surveys third-, fourth-, and fifth-year associates on several aspects of job satisfaction, including work opportunities, compensation and benefits, training and guidance, and interaction with partners and other associates.
O’Melveny’s top spot in the ranking builds on a recent string of strong finishes that include six straight appearances in the top four.
“We’re very proud to be ranked number one by our associates,” said O’Melveny Chair Bradley J. Butwin. “Their dedication to our clients makes us proud every day. It’s important to us to know they feel that they are doing challenging, meaningful, and rewarding work, and that their firm genuinely cares about them and their success.”
“This survey also provides feedback that helps us target and understand areas where we can improve,” Butwin added. “Constant self-reflection is one of the keys to our special culture.”
The Midlevel Survey adds to the wave of accolades the firm has garnered for the inclusive and supportive culture it fosters. On August 6, The American Lawyer ranked O’Melveny #3 on its prestigious “A-List,” which takes a holistic view of law firms by considering revenue per lawyer, pro bono, racial diversity, percentage of female equity partners, and associate satisfaction scores (making this the ninth consecutive year that the firm landed on the A-List). In 2019, O’Melveny achieved an unprecedented recognition by becoming the first law firm ranked #1 across all three of Vault’s “Quality of Life” categories: “Best Law Firm to Work For,” “Best Overall Diversity,” and “Best Summer Associate Program.” O’Melveny was also named one of the “Best Law Firms for Women” for the eighth consecutive year by Working Mother magazine for employing best policies and practices to retain and promote women lawyers.
“Our goal has long been to provide an inclusive and collaborative environment where associates feel connected and confident,” added George Demos, O’Melveny’s Chief Operating Officer. “Now, as COVID keeps us all working remotely, we are also taking special care to pay attention to wellness in the broadest sense. That includes providing ample opportunities for healthy dialogue around issues weighing on our people’s minds, from the pandemic to racial justice.”
In the Midlevel Survey, O’Melveny scored highly in key categories, including “management openness” and transparency, which AmLaw noted has been critical during the coronavirus pandemic.
At O’Melveny, Butwin told the publication, “transparency is a two-way street. It’s not enough for management to keep the firm in the loop. It’s also crucial to foster a culture where associates feel comfortable speaking up, knowing their concerns and ideas will be heard.”
O’Melveny also ranked #1 for technology, which includes the categories of “firm-provided technology,” “firm-provided training,” “technology support,” and “technology on behalf of clients,” another critical area at a time when, as AmLaw put it, the pandemic “sent nearly the entire legal community to work from home.”
In addition, O’Melveny ranked higher than any firm in the category of “attitude toward pro bono.” Many of the firm’s most important pro bono cases, AmLaw reported, are “headed up by associates and counsel, including a win for the Border Network for Human Rights and El Paso County, Texas, to stop the Trump administration from diverting funds to build a wall along the United States’ southern border and a Supreme Court victory for the Center for Reproductive Rights in an abortion rights case.”
Overall rankings reflect the sum of law firm performance across these categories. As the editors observed, the survey reflects which firms have in a moment of tremendous uncertainty “done the best to deliver on the high-quality work, comfortable culture and other factors needed to keep associates happy.”
“It’s about creating an environment that makes us not only better lawyers but also better people,” said Butwin. “When you combine diverse backgrounds and experiences, active inclusion and engagement, and cutting-edge legal work for companies and communities, the result for our firm and our clients can be truly special.”
About O’Melveny
It’s more than what you do: it’s how you do it. Across sectors and borders, in board rooms and courtrooms, we measure our success by yours. And in our interactions, we commit to making your O’Melveny experience as satisfying as the outcomes we help you achieve. Our greatest accomplishment is ensuring that you never have to choose between premier lawyering and exceptional service. So, tell us. What do you want to achieve? Visit us at www.omm.com or learn more in our firm at-a-glance, year-end highlights, and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Contact:
Christopher Rieck
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
+1 212 326 2218
crieck@omm.com