Firm Summary
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Consistently recognized as one of New York’s elite firms, Sullivan & Cromwell was an early adopter of global expansion, opening international offices as early as the first half of the 20th century. From its beginnings in New York’s Financial District in 1879, the firm has grown to employ over 800 attorneys in 13 offices across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia. While Sullivan & Cromwell offers top-notch services in a wide range of practice areas, it touts a generalist approach, in contrast to many of its competitors who have chosen to specialize in discrete areas. Attorneys are not assigned to specific practice groups, industries, or geographic locations, but instead are encouraged to be generalists. The approach appears to work, because S&C is consistently considered among the best of the best on both the corporate and litigation sides of the fence.
Firm Stats
- Firm Name
- Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
- U.S. Lawyer Headcount
- 619
- Headcount Change Since 2016
Overall
-66
Partner
+16
- Salary Scale
- Market
- Bonus Category
- Full Match
- Hours Required
- Unspecified
- Top Feeder Schools
- Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School, NYU School of Law
- Average Lawyer Tenure at Firm (Years)
- 6.6
- Revenue Per Lawyer Change Over Five Years
- 14%
- Women Partners (as Percentage of U.S. Lawyer Headcount)
- 5%
- Women Partners (As a Percentage of U.S. Partnership)
- 24%
- Promotion Rate
- 1%
- Most Common Federal Case Types
- Finance, Antitrust, Bankruptcy
- Most Active Federal Jurisdictions
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Frequent Federal Litigation Clients
- FCA US LLC, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Bank Sarasin & CIE
Firm Policies
Work/Life Balance
- 18 weeks primary caregiver leave
- Flex and/or reduced hours
- Sabbaticals
- Tech stipend
- Subsidized backup care/emergency dependent care
- Adoption assistance
Benefits and Perks
- Bar review course (PMBR, MPRE)
- Bar exam fees, hotel, travel
- $7-10K salary advance
- Direct billing with preferred movers; moving of car; closing costs or broker fees; house hunting services; temporary furnished housing during housing search; up to 3 months storage; preferred treatment from specific lenders
- Pro-rated stub bonus ($5-12K)
- Mentoring
Superstars
H Rodgin Cohen
Senior Chairman
Senior Chairman of the firm, Cohen is a legal titan and highly regarded as one of the foremost experts in M&A and governance matters. Cohen focuses his 50 years of experience on acquisition, regulatory, enforcement, and securities law matters for domestic and international banks, financial institutions, and their trade associations.
Robert Giuffra
Partner
Considered to be one of the top litigators in the country, Giuffra is a partner in the firm’s New York office and the head of its Securities Litigation practice. His practice focuses on bet-the-company white collar, securities, banking, insurance, tax, and commercial litigation matters. Previously, Giuffra served as a clerk to Chief Justice William Rehnquist at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Alison Ressler
Partner
A partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office, Ressler is considered a guru in domestic and international transactional law, particularly in the areas of M&A, private equity, capital markets, and corporate governance. Ressler routinely handles multi-billion dollar deals for some of the world’s biggest companies across a wide range of industries.
Stephen Kotran
Partner
A partner in the firm’s New York office and the head of its Financial Advisory and Insurance M&A practice, Kotran has had an illustrious 35-year career handling high-profile M&A and private equity deals. Kotran routinely advises buyers, sellers, special committees, and financial advisers in connection with a wide range of M&A transactions, including negotiated and hostile acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, and asset sales.
Above the Law Coverage
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Biglaw Partner In Hot Water After Twitter Outburst Inspired By Kavanaugh Hearing
Cursing out women isn’t a great idea when you’re supposed to be a professional.
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Opening Up Sullivan & Cromwell’s Bonus Black Box
This is what S&C associates think about their bonuses
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A Peek Inside Sullivan & Cromwell Partner Pay
A financial disclosure form gives us hints about the wealth of S&C partners.
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More Sullivan & Cromwell Lawyers Joining The Trump Administration
After Jones Day, is S&C the biggest “feeder firm” to the Trump Administration?
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Sullivan & Cromwell Makes A Move In The 2020 Bonus Games
What goodies does this firm’s bonus black box hold?
The Law Firm Transparency Project draws upon Above the Law research as well as data provided by Leopard Solutions and UniCourt. Click here for an expanded methodology and definition of terms.
