Firm Summary
Williams & Connolly LLP
A younger firm than most of its top competitors in the Biglaw world, Williams & Connolly was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1967. Unlike the rest of the firms of its caliber, Williams & Connolly decided to stay put, resisting global expansion and exponential growth. To this day, the firm maintains only a D.C. presence, with approximately 300 attorneys who work almost exclusively on litigation matters. Don’t let their small size fool you, though — this powerhouse can go head to head with firms four times its size and still come out on top. Widely recognized as one of the world’s best litigation firms, Williams & Connolly is the go-to for some of the biggest corporations in the world from every sector, not to mention celebrities, political figures, and even other law firms. In addition to high-stakes litigation, the firm a strong presence in the intellectual property and products liability sectors, and is no stranger to arguing before the Supreme Court.
Firm Stats
- Firm Name
- Williams & Connolly LLP
- U.S. Lawyer Headcount
- 343
- Headcount Change Since 2016
Overall
+70
Partner
+11
- Salary Scale
- Market +
- Hours Required
- Unspecified
- Top Feeder Schools
- Harvard Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, Duke Law School
- Average Lawyer Tenure at Firm (Years)
- 6.8
- Revenue Per Lawyer Change Over Five Years
- -13%
- Women Partners (as Percentage of U.S. Lawyer Headcount)
- 7%
- Women Partners (As a Percentage of U.S. Partnership)
- 25%
- Promotion Rate
- 2%
- Most Common Federal Case Types
- Personal Injury, Marine, Medical/Pharmaceutical Product Liability
- Most Active Federal Jurisdictions
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
- Frequent Federal Litigation Clients
- BP America Production Company, BP Exploration & Production Inc., Merck Sharp Dohme
Firm Policies
Work/Life Balance
- 18 weeks primary caregiver leave
- Flex and/or reduced hours
- Subsidized backup care/emergency dependent care
- Adoption aid
Benefits and Perks
- Bar review course
- Bar exam fees
- Case-by-case salary advance
- Reasonable moving expenses up to a cap
Superstars
Lisa Blatt
Partner
Blatt is the chair of the firm’s Supreme Court and Appellate practice, and for good reason — she has argued 37 cases before the Supreme Court (33 successfully), more than any other woman. The National Law Journal has deemed her not only a “SCOTUS legend,” but one of “the 100 most influential lawyers in America.”
Enu Mainigi
Partner
The chair of the firm’s Health Care and False Claims Act and Qui Tam practice groups, Mainigi is widely lauded for her expertise and was recently named to The National Law Journal’s list of Health Care Law Trailblazers.”
Dane Butswinkas
Partner
The former chairman of the firm, Butswinkas is back handling high-profile trials and arbitrations after leaving for a very brief stint as GC of Tesla. Universally regarded for his top-notch litigation skills, Butswinkas has been named one of the country’s top 50 “Trial Aces” by Law360.
Margaret Keeley
Partner
Co-Chair of the firm’s Lawyer Liability practice group, Keely focuses on complex civil and criminal matters, largely in the legal malpractice and other professional liability context. DCA Live recently named Keely as one of their 2019 Emerging Women Leaders in Law.
Above the Law Coverage
-
Salary Increases At Elite Litigation Firm Say Associates
Just when you think Biglaw salary increases are finished…
-
How Much Do Partners Make At Williams & Connolly?
Another Trump nominee lets us look in on firm finances.
-
Biglaw Mega Merger Between Quinn Emanuel and Williams & Connolly Not To Be
W&C: There’s nothing to see here!
-
The Best Law Firms To Work For: Biglaw ‘Quality Of Life’ Rankings
Is your firm in the top 10, or perhaps the top 25?
-
Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: Who Now Pays A Starting Salary Of $200,000?
This across-the-board, $20,000 pay raise is just another sign of a tightening market for top talent.
-
100 Biglaw Firms Putting Diversity On The Front Burner
Biglaw is working on its diversity problem.
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.
