Aaron Charney, Biglaw, Gay, H. Rodgin Cohen, Media and Journalism

Brokeback Lawfirm: Two Interesting Articles

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From the new March issue of The American Lawyer. Both are by the fabulous and fashionable Vivia Chen. Go Vivia!
1. “Antigay or Antihuman?” [American Lawyer]
Yes, this is an article about Sullivan & Cromwell. Money quote:

“We can’t fire everybody who might say something inappropriate, who does something foolish under pressure,” says [firm chairman H. Rodgin] Cohen, adding that partners and associates who step out of line receive counseling. “[But] I’m 100 percent convinced that this firm is no worse than others.”

Maybe; maybe not:

In the last two years, S&C has scored near the bottom in The American Lawyer’s midlevel associates survey. And according to an S&C memo leaked to The Wall Street Journal in January, the firm had a 31 percent attrition rate among its associates in 2005.

See also:

“Every word of that complaint rang true to me,” says one former lawyer. “They [M&A partners] are just vulgar.”

“I don’t think it’s discrimination; M&A is just a brutal group,” says the former lawyer. “I think this guy was treated badly and unprofessionally.” Sums up another former M&A associate: “S&C isn’t antigay, just antihuman.”

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2. Rainbow Revolution [American Lawyer]
This article is adequately summed up by the subhed: “Despite the lawsuit against Sullivan & Cromwell, these are the best of times to be a gay lawyer.” Our favorite quote:

One reason that accurate data [about gay lawyers at large law firms] is hard to collect is that GLBT individuals can stay below the radar screen. “It’s not obvious; I don’t sing ‘YMCA’ when I walk into a room,” says Joseph Hall, 43, the only openly gay partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell. Unlike gender or race, revealing sexual orientation is a matter of choice.

Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell (scroll down)

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