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Going In-House

The Real Reason You
Went to Law School

We won’t tell anyone your secret 1

There’s a world where your business acumen is as valued as your legal credentials.

Maybe you’re sick of keeping track of your billables. Or maybe you’re the GC of a startup that’s just gone public, and you need a new gig. While the possibilities in-house are endless, there’s also no more Cravath Scale or AmLaw rankings.

You’re in the Wild West.
But Whistler is here to guide you.

We only work on jobs we would want ourselves, and the majority of our in-house
roles come from referrals from our trusted partners at top tech firms.

 

 

Happy lawyers who made it in-house:

I've had the privilege of working with Whistler and Kathleen Mon from both sides of the table. During my tenure as Chief of Staff to the General Counsel at Gopuff Kathleen helped me find dynamic tech and regulatory lawyers that were great additions to our team. Kathleen listened (rare in a recruiter these days), helped us build on-point candidate profiles, and then brought amazing candidates to the table. Most importantly, she understood that finding the right culture fit was equally, if not more, important than finding a candidate with the right set of skills. It made the search process easy and effective.
Most recently, I worked with Kathleen as a candidate. In a world of mega recruiting agencies, working with Kathleen on the candidate side was a breath of fresh air. She communicated honestly, was super responsive, and gave me great feedback and advice during the entire process - from resume prep through the interview stages. Kathleen landed me a role I am absolutely thrilled about and it would not have been possible without her. I can't thank her enough and I highly recommend Kathleen to anyone looking to take that next step in their career!

 

NAT FLANDREAU Nat Flandreau

VP of Legal at Hubble Contacts

Working with Nadeen and Whistler Partners has been a great experience for me.  Nadeen was able to connect me with a dream job opportunity at a unicorn start-up, and I have Nadeen to thank for that.  I tried direct applying and through linkedIn, but Nadeen was able to get me in rather quickly through her great connections to the tech industry.  I highly recommend working with Nadeen and Whistler Partners!

 

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Legal Counsel at Smart Home Unicorn

Taylor isn't your "average recruiter." He never pushed me towards something that wasn't a good fit, but instead was intent on getting to know me and my needs. During the interview process, he connected me with Whistler contacts who gave me insights into the companies I was interviewing at, and he considered all of my feedback before giving me invaluable advice, including how to tackle some difficult conversations diplomatically. I would hands down recommend Taylor to anyone looking to make a move in-house.

 

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Legal Counsel at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Josh is one of the best recruiters I've ever worked with. He had his finger on the pulse of the employer and did a great job of communicating to me both the specific needs of the employer as well as really valuable general advice. Josh and his team took all the time I needed to prepare me for my interviews, field questions, make suggestions, and most importantly, express confidence! I wouldn't hesitate to work with Josh and his team again.

 

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Legal Counsel at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, former Private Equity Associate at Kirkland

Associates - Find a Better Fit

Dream Jobs
Do Exist 1

Don’t just quit
and become
a real estate agent.

The job you get out of law school does not determine your fate, because it's the next move -
the one you make when you know what you want - that means everything.

Whether you want a culture upgrade or a practice area shift,
we can light the way.

Whistler's promise is simple: we evaluate the competition and make you five to ten percent better.
That's the difference you need to stand out from the pack.

 

Associates who now love their jobs:

Josh is a career resource in addition to being a legal recruiter. He happily offers ideas and discusses job options and career paths beyond those for which he will receive a fee, which distinguishes him from many other recruiters in the market and makes him an extremely valuable partner in a job search. I was a difficult person to place, given I was a senior corporate associate who took a year off from practice and was reentering the job market at a low point in the cycle, but Josh found opportunities for me and took as much time as he could to ensure I was prepared for successful interviews. I am very thankful for his assistance and would use him again in a heartbeat if I am ever back in the market.

 

gertrude stein 10

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Private Equity M&A Associate at Global Firm

Josh's knowledge and experience make a tough and uncertain process easy. Early on in my career, Josh walked me through the lateral process from start to finish when I had no idea what to expect. Years later, Josh again helped guide me to an opportunity that best fit my goals. Josh has helped me and my friends throughout the years, and I strongly recommend him to anyone looking for a recruiter. He might be the only one you'll ever need.

 


BENJAMIN HOBenjamin Ho

IP Litigation Associate at Steptoe & Johnson

I've worked with Whistler Partners for over 3 years, and this is the second offer I've accepted through them in that time. Their knowledge of the technology sector is top notch – they clearly know and were able to introduce me to the best opportunities in it. And more specifically, Taylor and Nadeen have been fantastic to work with. They’re never pushy, provide detailed and nuanced insight about specific roles and general career trajectory, and always prepared me in advance of each interview. Really glad to have them in my corner!

 

 

ARON NIMANIAron Nimani-1

Technology Transactions and Licensing Senior Associate at WilmerHale

Long before I met Karen, I was a huge fan. I followed her on Twitter and listened to her charming and insightful podcast regularly. So, when I heard she was joining Whistler Partners, it felt like fate.

Before reaching out to her, I had already spent several months (unsuccessfully) submitting applications through other recruiters and on my own and was starting to lose hope. However, I knew if anyone could help me, it was Karen Vladeck.

Not only did I tell her that I wanted to lateral to a different city as a very junior associate, but I also wanted to transition to a new practice group. Karen didn’t blink; she listened and immediately got to work tailoring a list of firms that fit my needs and preparing me for interviews.

Within weeks, I received and accepted an offer for my dream job as a corporate associate in Austin. Before starting this process, I didn’t know all of the benefits of working with a good recruiter like Karen, but her deep insider knowledge and powerful advocacy set me up for success.

She is responsive, kind, and wildly effective at her job. You will not find a better recruiter/therapist/friend than Karen Vladeck.

 

Summer ThomasSummer Thomas

Corporate Associate at Haynes and Boone

If you’re thinking about calling Karen, just stop reading this and go call Karen. It will be the best thing you’ve done for yourself and your career in a long time. I know it was for me.

Here’s what you can expect once you’ve got Karen on your team: expert insider advice on the legal market – including not only the best options for you now, but the best options to position you for your next chapter; invaluable assistance with your resume and application materials; a cheerleader who will talk you up to all the right folks; a mentor who will prep you for interviews, debrief them afterwards, and provide solid advice all along the way; a national network of recruiters who will pitch in with advice on specific markets as needed; and – most importantly – a friend you can trust to help guide you during one of the most important decisions of your career.

Karen helped me land the exact position in the exact practice area in the exact location I wanted. I cannot imagine making a legal career move without Karen, and I hope I never have to.

 

Brittany FowlerBrittany Fowler

Entertainment Associate at O'Melveny

Francis helped me secure a position at the perfect firm for me. His high energy level and unique insights into how specific practice groups operate made each conversation fruitful. Switching firms can be stressful and may feel like a full-time job in itself, but working with Francis made the process much easier to navigate.

 

JORDAN THOMPSONJordan Thompson

Tech Transactions Associate at Davis Wright Tremaine

Josh leveled with me from the start. He never tried to sell me on a position, but rather took the time to talk through options and took a vested interest in my career. I was more than just a commission.
Whether you're trying to break in or move up in the ultra competitive tech or entertainment fields, Whistler can actually get you there. Whistler's industry focused networks and resources allow them to deliver where the other guys can't.
I recommend Josh to everyone because he delivered. He listened to where I wanted my career to go and then paved the road to get there.

 


MARK BONINMark Bonin

Legal Counsel at The Kraft Group; New England Patriots; New England Revolution

I can recommend Julieta without reservation.  Throughout my job search, she was extremely responsive and gave my (many) questions a great deal of thought.  She also has excellent market knowledge and connections in the Bay Area.  Her Bay Area expertise is especially valuable as I went to school on the East Coast  and was less familiar with the West Coast EC/VC firms.  Lastly, I thought of Julieta as a strategic partner, rather than someone trying to sell me on any particular outcome or firm, which earned my trust and respect.  

 


NATHANIEL GRAYNathaniel Gray

Corporate and Securities (Startups) Associate at Gunderson Dettmer

Working with Wolf was one of the better professional experiences I've had. He took the time to actually understand what I was looking for in my next job and how it aligned with my overall career goals. He provided me with tailored advice and opportunities, whereas, frankly, other recruiters seemed more interested in making sure I was placed anywhere they could find an opening (relevant or not). Wolf also took the time to be there for me on a personal level, and was a great sounding board when considering different offers.
I would recommend Wolf 10/10 times.

 

JOE DOLLJoe Doll

Corporate & Crypto Associate at Fenwick & West

There is no better recruiter to work with than Tad. Not only does Tad work tirelessly to make sure you are offered the best opportunities, but he also takes the time and effort to get to know you personally so that he can make sure he’s placing you somewhere that fits your vibe, rather than trying to rush you through the process.
To put it simply, I will never work with anyone else. I am positive that there’s no better recruiter out there who cares as much as Tad, and the Whistler team as a whole, to make sure you end up somewhere where you’ll be satisfied at a professional level and, more importantly, happy at a personal level.

 

Marc Baliatico

MARC BALIATICO

Private Funds Associate at Proskauer Rose

From the start, Tad listened carefully to understand what I was trying to accomplish in my lateral move and shaped and drove the search process advising me at every step of the journey. He is an excellent negotiator with prospective firms and tells it how it is to his clients. He made certain that I had all of the information and considered every angle before accepting or turning down an offer. We worked very well together and I have and will continue to recommend him to friends exploring a lateral move.

 

WILL REILY

WILL REILY

Financial Restructuring Associate at King & Spalding

Tad took the time to learn about my career goals, and rather than simply sharing opportunities and openings, he took the time to discuss and prepare multiple plans and paths for me to achieve these goals. In the end, I ended up at a great firm that puts right on track for where I hope my legal career will lead. Aside from our professional relationship, Tad also took the time to get to know me personally and continued to check in even when our search had to be temporarily put on hold due to the pandemic.

 

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Mergers & Acquisitions Associate at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Emily is a wonderful human being and that is what makes her an outstanding recruiter. The time and patience Emily took to help me figure my path was relentless yet supportive. This just shows how dedicated the team at Whistler is to your hopes and ambitions. Hands down the best experience with a recruiter ever. Keep it up team Whistler!

 

PRALIKA JAINPralika Jain

Healthcare Associate at Moses & Singer

Whistler and Josh Bilgrei supercharged a fairly languid lateral search into high gear and impressed me with their knowledge of the tech law firm landscape and we zeroed in quickly on what I wanted and where I could get that. A few years after my lateral switch, I can’t thank them enough and for anyone considering a similar career move, can’t recommend them enough.

 

BEN ROSALESBen Rosales

Corporate, Emerging Growth Companies Associate at Goodwin

I wouldn’t be at my current in-house job right now without Jordan’s help with the intermediate steps. I can't recommend him more highly. He’s incredibly well versed in Big Law and is your secret weapon for interview prep — it seems like he knows everybody and he does a great job of helping you frame your move.

 

JONATHAN ALLANJon Allan

Deputy General Counsel at Stoke Therapeutics, former PE M&A and Emerging Companies at Fenwick & West

Francis is not only awesome at what he does, but also is an all around great person to work with and to know. He has been a trusted advisor for me throughout my process of lateraling to a new firm in all respects, and has helped me to navigate the business-related aspects of the move (interviewing, negotiating the offer, etc.) as well as talking me through the things that would affect my personal life and career objectives. He is an organized, responsive and well-connected “people-person” who goes above and beyond the typical role of a recruiter to make sure his clients are taken care of.

 

JASMINE JOSEPHJasmine Joseph

Early Stage and Venture Capital Associate at Latham & Watkins

Very dependable and responsive, Francis was instrumental in my search for a position in the media/tech transactions space. He took the time to understand what type of role I was looking for and provided invaluable guidance every step of the way.

 

MERISSA PICOMerissa Pico

Technology Transactions Associate at Covington

Josh and the Whistler team knew what I wanted before I did. Josh is warm, personable and thoughtful and made sure I was prepared for a series of interviews with what would quickly become my top choice. I am happy and thriving at my new firm because of Josh and the Whistler team.

 

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Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Associate at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Taylor made my dream job a reality. From our first call, I could tell that he had done his homework, genuinely cared about my career goals, and wanted to help me accomplish them. He understands the nuances of the media, entertainment, and technology legal market. Taylor thoughtfully and carefully curated potential lateral opportunities, found the perfect fit, and made the process seamless. I always felt that Taylor was invested in me for the long haul, and he has been a trusted adviser and friend.

 

PHILLIP HILLPhil Hill

Soft IP Litigation Associate at Covington

Taylor and Whistler know what they’re doing in this market. They took the time to get to know me and my career goals so we could focus only on positions that would make a great fit. They have live knowledge of what’s market and use it to time things just right. It’s clear they’re playing the long game with the professionals they work with, and I’d be happy to partner again with them in the future.

 

 

MONTANA WAREMontana Ware

Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Associate at Orrick

Wolf and the Whistler team are a next generation team of legal recruiters. They are savvy, experienced and deeply entrenched in the right markets. I started working with Wolf even before I wanted a change because it was clear it was a relationship worth having, for both career and personal reasons. Later on, when a change was in the works, Wolf seamlessly led me through the process and helped me reach and even expand my goals.

 

TOMER STEINTomer Stein

Currently In-House, Former Capital Markets Associate at Latham & Watkins

Wolf was a straight shooter and a pleasure to work with as I traversed what I thought would be an uncomfortable process. Wolf helped me figure out what I wanted out of a job, gave me the lay of the land of where I could find what I wanted, and helped me land at one of those destinations. Couldn’t be happier with the process and the end result.

 

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IP Licensing & Technology Transactions Associate at xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I have had such an amazing experience with Wolf and his team! As I was considering shifting into a new area of practice, Wolf listened intently to what I was looking for. Unlike recruiters I worked with in the past, Wolf only provided me with opportunities that were relevant to my goals. Wolf and his team listened to what I wanted in a new firm and provided instrumental advice during the interview process.
Most importantly, when I received my offer from xxxxxxxxxxx, Wolf didn't pressure me to take it. Instead, he told me to reflect on how this next move will fit into my overall career trajectory and think about those considerations before accepting. The Whistler team looks at the bigger picture and truly focuses on how to ensure you have the best experience and land the offer you really want!

 

 

 

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Emerging Companies Associate at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tad and Emily helped me work through a difficult, risky transition - my practice group experienced several senior departures at once, and I had to decide quickly whether to go or stay, and if going, where to go. Lots of calls and meetings, and more than one kick in the ass later, all courtesy of my friends at Whistler, I landed on my feet, in a better situation than where I started. Thanks, again, for taking good care of me.

 

Robert Weiss

ROBERT WEISS

Asset Management and Investment Funds Counsel at K&L Gates

Just wanted to say I hope you don't mind that I keep sending people your way. I know it's your job, but it still feels like you're doing me a favor whenever you take the time to connect with my friends.
If it wasn't already clear, I enjoyed working with you when lateraling myself and feel comfortable referring others to you since I know your approach isn't one that ignores people's personal goals just for the sake of placing them somewhere.
Hope you and your family are good otherwise!
 
Best,
xxxxxxx

 

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Capital Markets Associate at DLA Piper

I’ll always think of my legal career as BT / AT. Before Tad and After Tad.
More than a terrific agent, he’s the best mentor, coach and teammate a young lawyer could ever have. Beyond the experience, beyond the connections, beyond the strategy and the sheer amount of effort he puts in, what sets Tad apart is his genuine love for the work. Teaming up with Tad was more than successful, it was inspirational. Seeing his passion and drive made me want to be not only the best lawyer I can be, but also the best parent, friend and colleague.
When I was first introduced to Whistler Partners I mistakenly thought they were a VC firm themselves. But that’s how polished, professional, scrappy and successful his team is for their clients & candidates. They find opportunity and deliver for their partners like no one else.
Tad is Jerry Maguire, Bill Belichick, and Jerry Rice all rolled into one. More than a terrific agent, more than a legendary career coach, truly a teammate on the legal field. He knows the players, the strategy, and the competition, and won’t stop until he delivers. If you want to win, go with Whistler. They’re the Yankees, Patriots, Lakers, Red Wings, Jordan, Brady, Phelps, Woods of the industry and it's not especially close. Working with this team feels like a cheat code. “Unlocking” Whistler will catapult your career like nothing else.

 

gertrude stein 14

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Private Equity & Venture Capital Associate at xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Partners - Find a Better Platform

Already a Big Shot
Partner?

Finding the right platform
for your practice is paramount.

More resources, more reach, more reward.

We believe that tech and startup partners’ books are pound for pound worth more
to a firm because of their growth potential. If your firm isn’t accurately assessing your value,
it’s time to move.

You’re building the practice of the future
and that should be rewarded.

Is it just you? Have you built a whole team? Either way, Whistler owns tech
convergence and is best positioned to match you with a firm that delivers
on its promises.

 

Partners who are taking names:

Josh was indispensable as I moved from in-house to a senior position at a firm. I came from a unique background with no big law experience. Josh took the time to not only help me find a good fit and communicate my skill set, but talk through my concerns and prepare me for issues that could come up in my new practice. When it came time to make my next career move, reaching out to Josh was my first step.

 

Joey Seiler

JOEY SEILER

Vice President, Licensing Lead and Business Affairs, TIDAL and former Senior Counsel, Loeb & Loeb

I recommend Josh to everyone from my closest former colleagues to lawyers who I am on boards with and know that they are in good hands.  He and I first connected when I was hiring associates for my last firm and the candidate just raved about his recruiter. Josh soon followed up with me and I could see why the candidate had said so many good things about Josh and it’s for the same reasons why I send so many attorneys to Josh.  He is incredibly knowledgeable about the industry and space and tells it to you like it is and at the same time he is so personable and patient during the process.  He is not transactional but relational. 

We spoke for much longer than a year about hiring associates and then transitioned to my own search as I was moving geographic locations and wanted to move firms to be near an office.  He provided valuable guidance and continued to guide me once he placed me at a top 50 AM Law firm about integrating there and introduced me to people at the firm. Josh is a friend, a trusted advisor and an incredible recruiter.

 

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XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Digital Media/Tech Transactions Partner at AMLAW 50 Firm

Josh is by far the most effective recruiter I’ve worked with. He is practical and takes the time to ask but more importantly, listen to what you’re looking for in a role, unlike most other recruiters I’ve encountered who simply want to offer up a candidate for an opening.
What I loved most about working with Josh is that he is always direct and honest, he stays engaged and provides guidance where needed, and was great at managing the whole process which often meanders along for a few months. You always know where you stand with Josh and for me, that was a breath of fresh air.

 

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XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Technology Transactions Partner at Global Firm

Taylor was an absolute pleasure to work with. He is highly responsible, immediately responsive, and obviously passionate about placing partners where they want to be. Taylor worked with me to find not just any job, but the perfect fit, and he succeeded. I cannot recommend him highly enough.

 

 

BEZALEL STERNBezalel Stern

FTC, Advertising, and Consumer Protection Partner at Manatt

Sean called me his first day on the job nearly 20 years ago. He moved me from litigation in a failing patent boutique to IP/Corporate at a top five PPP firm. It was exactly what I asked for and completely the wrong move for me.
Then, he helped me move, without getting paid for it, to a mid-sized advertising boutique where I worked happily for several years.
Lastly, as I was on the verge of true happiness, I had picked out office space and was moving to Austin Texas to start my own boutique with great weather and no state taxes, he asked me to “have breakfast and shake a hand” with this great firm he knows. Almost a decade later, it was a perfect fit.
Now we use Whistler to find other great attorneys fed up with Big Law that want interesting work and better lives.

 


S. GREGORY BOYDgreg boyd

Partner & Co-Chair of Interactive Entertainment Group at Frankfurt Kurnit

As I tried to figure out where to start with my job search amid confidentiality and conflict concerns, Karen’s name kept coming up. She has a large online presence—and an equally large personality—and friends kept telling me to reach out to her. I don’t know why I waited so long to do it. Don’t be like me!
Karen was able to pick out the skills and experiences I had that would be valuable to employers so we could focus our search on the firms that were likely to be interested. I say “we” and “our” because once Karen got involved, she was right there with me. She helped prepare me for interviews, was there to answer all my questions about the process and celebrated every tiny bit of positive feedback with me. Having someone in my corner who could follow up when I wouldn’t have felt comfortable doing so myself greatly reduced the amount of time I spent in agony wondering what was going on. Most importantly, her enthusiasm was contagious. Just talking with her inspired hope so I was able to show up for interviews with energy and excitement.
Thanks to Karen, I wound up in a job that is a better fit for me than anything I would have thought of on my own. I truly could not have done it without her knowledge of, and access to, the industry. Her focus, persistence and responsiveness made the process infinitely easier. And her enthusiasm and personality actually made it fun!
Within weeks, I received and accepted an offer for my dream job as a corporate associate in Austin. Before starting this process, I didn’t know all of the benefits of working with a good recruiter like Karen, but her deep insider knowledge and powerful advocacy set me up for success.

She is responsive, kind, and wildly effective at her job. You will not find a better recruiter/therapist/friend than Karen Vladeck.

 

ALI ANDREWSAli Andrews

Special Counsel at Baker Botts

I faced a crossroads in my career when I realized that the firm that I had been with for over a decade was no longer the best for for my practice. Josh, Sean, and their team really “got” what I wanted and needed in a new firm. I had both a business partner and a best friend to guide me through the process. Thanks to their help, I joined a new firm that’s both skyrocketed my professional growth and where I’ve had a great time so far. Now, Whistler is helping build my team.

 

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Technology Transactions Partner at xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Career Counseling & Coaching

Love your job,
but need some guidance?

We’re here to help you
grow and develop in your career.

You’ve made it into an incredibly competitive part of the legal industry, and we know that you’re a great attorney. But sometimes it takes some outside help from a career counselor to reach your professional goals.

We help attorneys at all levels assess their skills and interests, add new skills to their repertoire (like networking and interviewing), and come up with concrete plans for reaching their professional goals. 

We give you the tools and resources.
You reap the rewards.

Reach out to contact@whistlerpartners.com to learn more.

 

Attorneys who've taken the next step:

I've known Sean for almost 10 years. He's been a great sounding board and has given reliable advice throughout my legal career journey, from law firm associate, to in-house lawyer, to tech-gc, and back to a firm again. Highly recommend working with Sean.

 

GORDON SUNGGordon Sung

Counsel at ArentFox Schiff

Sean and the team at Whistler Partners are great advisors for lawyers, no matter how far along they are in their legal career. Early on in my career, Sean gave me very practical advice that set me on an early path to success that I would never have gotten elsewhere (and didn't involve any kind of commission).

Whether you're looking for a new role or trying to find a top candidate, Sean's knowledge of the legal market will be a huge asset for you.

 

JAMES GANNONJames Gannon

Associate General Counsel at McKinsey & Company

Wolf, Sean and the Whistler team were massive assets in my corner when I was looking to take the next step. Their vast experience and deep understanding in the Tech / ECVC ecosystem was instrumental in helping me search for and secure my current role and their advice along the way was invaluable. Very few folks are this plugged into the market, but Wolf and Sean fundamentally understand the ECVC world. Much more than recruiters, Wolf and Sean were strategic advisors and I am very lucky to have them on my side.

 

BRIAN MULHALLBrian Mulhall

Partner at Goodwin

I spoke to Sean at a moment of a big career transition. He listened carefully to where I was coming from, and his thoughtful and candid perspective was extremely helpful. The Whistler team got back to me within hours with several options for next steps that helped sharpen my focus and clarify my next steps.  

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXgertrude stein 16

Senior Counsel at XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX

FAQ

The Questions We Get Every Day

We’ll ask so you don’t have to feel silly 2

Why don’t I just submit myself?

You wouldn’t try to argue a case in court if you weren’t a litigator. Sometimes it’s just best to leave things to the professionals. We do this everyday. We know these firms. We got lunch with the hiring manager last week. We are your asset.

We’ll tailor your resume to the opportunity at hand, prep you for the interview with insider knowledge, advocate for you and negotiate on your behalf.3

Why shouldn’t I just submit through a friend?

“Neither a borrower nor a lender be” - Shakespeare 4

Ok fine, but why work with Whistler Partners instead of another recruiting shop?

We hope you’ve gotten here because you like our style. But that’s not enough reason to entrust us with the future of your career.

The fact is, we place more attorneys into top tech and startup practices than any other recruiting shop.

Because we've focused our efforts, we're just more knowledgeable about the space. We know how to help you change practice areas, how to impress that one hiring partner, and how to trick your dream firm into wanting to hire you (just kidding, we’re sure they’ll want you based on your killer credentials). If you have one shot at making a good impression, don't you want to go in equipped with as much knowledge as possible?

Did we mention that we negotiate salaries and benefits every day?

Negotiation takes practice and we’ve done our reps.

Why use just one legal recruiter? Isn’t more… more?!

We love maximilism! More cake, more vacations, more drinks! But it’s not great when it comes to legal recruiters.

Think of yourself like a star athlete, and of us like your agent. LeBron James wouldn’t have two agents with conflicting interests advising him.5 They would never be able to offer impartial advice.

Similarly, if you have two separate recruiters, they’re incentivized to advocate most for the job where they represent you, even if that’s not the best move for your career.

Because of that, we always prefer that you work with just one recruiter, even if it’s not us. Choose the one you trust most and stick with them.

What if another recruiter calls me about an “exclusive” law firm job?

Call your favorite Whistler recruiter. If you’re an associate, 99.9% of law firm jobs aren’t exclusive to any single recruiter. Claiming that an associate level law firm job is “exclusive” is often a trick used when fishing for resumes. If the job does happen to be that 0.1% of law firm associate jobs that is exclusive, we will double check with the firm and gracefully bow out if true.

How do you get paid? I know you’re not all just doing this out of the kindness of your own hearts.

Our fees are paid by whoever hires you.

We probably place 1/10 people we consult with, but we strive to provide 10/10 with valuable advice. If you do want to bribe us with gifts like alcohol or free dinners, we’ll gladly accept. (Recruiting doesn’t have the strict code of ethics law does.)

That said, the highest compliment you can give us is a referral.

Should I go in-house? Is it too early in my career?

We refer to “the 10,000 hour rule” (credit: cool Gibson Dunn partner, piggybacking on Malcolm Gladwell). Associates tend to be ready to go in-house when they have about 10,000 hours under their belt (around the fifth year if you’re billing 2,000 hours a year). Going in-house too early could potentially stall out your career. In BigLaw, there are clear benchmarks and an annual raise is essentially guaranteed. But the business world is far more opaque. If you start as a low level counsel, you can easily be pigeon holed into doing the same kind of contract over and over again, at the same salary, for years.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, so we advise you talk with a recruiter you trust (even if you found the job on your own) to help evaluate if an in-house offer is worth taking.

I only want to go in-house. How should I run my search?

No legal recruiting shop has all of the in-house jobs.

In fact, most only have a handful at a time.

If you’ve checked our job board and we don’t have your dream job at the moment, we’d still love getting to know you. The more we know about your practice, the easier it is for us to call and advocate for you when your dream job comes along.

Do I really have to do a deal sheet? Fill out an LPQ?

Yes, yes, a million times yes.

We recommend all first year associates start keeping track of their deals from the get go - even just in the form of casual notes. It’ll make it much easier when you inevitably have to talk about what you’ve been up to for your entire career.

And if you want to be hired as a partner, you’re just going to have to fill out an LPQ. We know you can negotiate your way out of a lot of things, but this isn’t one of them.

Is there a secret cabal of recruiters that gains power by spamming me with jobs I don’t want?

There might be, but we haven’t been invited to join.

The secret that the legal recruiting industry doesn't want you to know? We all have the same database of law firm jobs and attorney contacts. What differentiates our recruiters is our knowledge of the tech and startup industries, and our winning personalities. We hope that our selective email outreach embodies that, and hopefully isn't too much of a nuisance.

If you don’t enjoy learning about the most interesting jobs in law, let us know and we’ll take you off our lists.

Who’s your ideal client?

Someone who’s tall, dark and hand… wait no.

We know we could make more money moving a sad finance partner from Wall Street Firm A to Wall Street Firm B.

But we’d rather work with people who see the world the same way we do - attorneys who are excited about innovation and progress.

And if they happen to have great credentials or a big book, we won’t complain.

Maybe I don’t even want to practice law anymore. Are you hiring?

Sean gets it. He left behind a glamorous life of doc review for an even more glamorous life of cold calling attorneys. And it was the best decision he ever made!

We’re always excited to meet people who want to join Whistler.

If you’re an associate who loves advising clients but hates writing briefs, a GC who’s sick of having to find a new gig every few years, or a retired partner looking to impart your knowledge, reach out to contact@whistlerpartners.com to learn about becoming a recruiter.6

Footnotes:

1) No we’re not talking about opening a winery. Don’t believe the hype - just because it worked out for Jess Jackson and Robert Parker (both former lawyers, btw) in the 70s doesn’t mean it’ll work for you now. Have you looked at property prices in Sonoma County recently?!

2) Our founder, Sean, was so shy growing up that he would make his little brother ask strangers what time it was. His little brother has a day job now so he doesn’t have time to ask questions for you.

3) True recruiter story: an in-house hedge fund client with incredibly high standards was looking to hire a litigator. After significant work and vetting of potential candidates, we gave them the 5 best candidates in NYC. The hiring manager responded: “they all went to great law schools and they practice at terrific law firms, but all 5 have jumped around too much this early in their career. Each of them worked for a judge for just 1 year and then moved on. Some of them had a job at the Supreme Court and only stayed for a year!” The point of the story? Sometimes in-house employers need a little help from us to understand why your resume is so great. So if you can have us advocate for you at a job, take the help.

4) Scenario 1: Friend who was really funny and popular in law school is now a terrible attorney and not well regarded at his firm. You’re forever blacklisted by association. Scenario 2: Friend goes above and beyond to get you the interview and help prep you. You hate the partner you’ll be working for and your friend gets burned in the process. Scenario 3: Friend turns in resume recommending you. Crickets… did they secretly sabotage you? Paranoia grows. Scenario 4: Friend offers to submit your resume to recruiting because you already have offers at two other comparable firms. Crickets… and time runs out on your other offers. Scenario 5: Friend calls you disappointed after you turn down the offer they helped you get. You later learn through mutual friends that friend is still given shit by the corner office managing partner about you turning down the offer. Friend never invites you to Friendsgiving again. Scenario 6: Friend says “I get a big referral fee if you give me your resume.” Crickets… Two months later you see on LinkedIn that friend accepted an in-house job. Their firm has never heard of you. Scenario 7: Friend was never a friend. You get nothing.

5) Not only has LeBron stuck with his one agent his whole career, he kind of even opened his own agency (ok, he doesn’t have an ownership stake in Klutch, but just saying…)! Disputes between agents and promoters are always ugly and nobody wins.

6) Unrelated to anything but our marketing department made us do this for SEO. Here’s every key word that a lawyer or hiring manager might search for: career advice, law firm rankings, partner profits, biglaw jobs, ignoring recruiter calls, law firm culture, nicer law firms, boutique law firms, burnout, how to go in-house, in-house jobs, legal news, law firm news, legal gossip, legal scandals, blawg, lateral move, switch practice areas, tech law, startup law, cannabis law, associate salaries, associate bonuses, partner salaries, how to originate, partner bonuses, general counsel salaries, in-house counsel salaries, in-house bonuses?, in-house pay cut, does life get better if you go in-house?, billable hours, 2200 hours, 2400 hours, 3000 hours, work-life balance, how to get partners to stop emailing at 3am, how to get associates to respond to emails at 3am, work less and make more, easy money, free money, law school loan forgiveness, lawyers with a personal life, dating for lawyers, attractive lawyers, attorney pool party, quitting law