Morrison Foerster

Outside San Francisco and Tokyo, the firm has 17 more offices across the US, Asia and Europe. International secondments are very much on the cards, with around a quarter of survey respondents this year reporting a stint in either Singapore or Brussels. For any aspiring jetsetters, the firm recently launched new hubs in Amsterdam and Seattle, poaching a 15-strong team of partners from Perkins Coie in the process, so that list looks set to grow.

Strong demand in corporate and litigation has driven serious growth for MoFo this year, with revenues up 9% to $1.5 billion (£1.1 billion). Profits per equity partner rose a solid 8% to $3.26 million (£2.41 million), following a slight contraction of the firm’s equity tier last year. London growth is also firmly on the agenda, with 10 new partners added over the past twelve months, poached from City rivals including Baker McKenzie, Morgan Lewis and litigation boutique Pallas Partners. The London office now boasts 30 partners in total.

MoFo rookies are known to cut their teeth on great work for some of the biggest companies in the world. “You are given responsibility as soon as you can handle it, which means the tasks quickly become more exciting,” according to one insider. “MoFo’s clients are all household names and the matters genuinely are questions of the highest company importance and sensitivity,” adds another. The relatively small cohort size means mundane grunt work is still part of the picture, but it also brings more meaningful responsibility, with some trainees reportedly taking on NQ-level work in their very first seat. Highlights out of the London office include supporting Rivian on its $5.8 billion joint venture with Volkswagen.

Training is described as good, though firmly on the hands-on end of the spectrum. Larger teams such as corporate and litigation offer more formal training throughout the year, but for the most part trainees are expected to learn on the go and use their initiative when seeking feedback. As one source puts it, “if there is more billable work, the departments are less concerned with providing high-level training. That’s not to say people aren’t invested in trainee development – even the busiest departments are aware when they need to attend to the needs and wellbeing of trainees.”

The small intake of around seven new trainees a year means no sharp elbows and no internal politics. Rookies speak highly of their peers, with one noting “we’re all very open with each other” and “try to get together for socials as regularly as possible.” Trainees also have their own group chat, used to “send each other queries about tasks or things we might not know.”

These positive vibes naturally spill over into a decent social life. The MoFo Social Committee “always has various activities and drinks planned,” with sources mentioning baristas in the office, quizzes and Easter hunts. Others praise the MoFo Mingle scheme, which hands trainees £85 each quarter to spend on socialising with colleagues.

MoFo also comes across as unusually friendly and non-hierarchical for a highly profitable US firm. “The firm is very friendly, and it is a standout feature,” one trainee boasts. Sources praised the flat hierarchy, describing superiors as incredibly approachable, always happy to answer questions, have a chat, or duet classic ABBA tracks at firm karaoke.

But it isn’t all Super Trouper and Dancing Queen. Though the experience may be about as good as it gets at a US firm, trainees should expect to work hard. Weekends and holidays are generally respected, but “it’s not worth making plans on weekdays unless you’re quiet.” As one insider explains, “there is far more predictability in contentious and specialist teams like litigation or employment, and individuals there tend to be more considerate of weekends. In transactional teams, when things get busy or a last-minute request comes in, you will be expected to put in the hours. But people are always appreciative, and hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.”

The compensation makes it worthwhile. Pay sits at £60k and £65k for first and second-year trainees respectively, with a significant jump to $225,000 plus bonuses on qualification — a top-notch NQ salary for those who make the grade.

Trainees can work from home occasionally and are provided with a monitor, keyboard and mouse to do so, though some would appreciate a desk or chair thrown into the mix. In the office, tech receives solid reviews, with a new AI assistant described as a “lifesaver” for rookies burning the midnight oil. A standard perks package covers gym subscription benefits alongside private health and dental cover. There’s no office canteen, but communal kitchens are well stocked with, as one source puts it, “a range of healthy and less healthy snacks.”