ATL Contest: Best Law Firm Swag of 2009

Despite the grim economy — which we don’t think is recovering yet, despite all the “green shoots” talk — law firms continue to interview. And to make job offers. And, of course, to woo the lucky few who get offers with fabulous prizes: the nifty gifts and cute tchotchkes, often branded with the firm’s name or logo, that we collectively call LAW FIRM SWAG.
At the recent Lavender Law conference (coverage here and here), we were impressed by the level of interview activity at the job fair. To be sure, it’s not clear whether any hiring was going on; but it was nice to see law firms out in force.
And it was nice to see their swag. There were pens, courtesy of Seyfarth Shaw, and compact shoeshine discs, courtesy of Townsend and Townsend and Crew. (Leave it to an IP law firm to bring out the snazzy hardware.)
And what about Sullivan & Cromwell, giver of bonsai trees, and the historical king of law firm swag? What did S&C dole out at this year’s Lavender Law conference?
Find out — and, even more importantly, learn how to nominate your favorite Biglaw gift in Above the Law’s first annual LAW FIRM SWAG CONTEST — after the jump.


At Lavender Law two years ago, S&C provided Kiehl’s toiletries. Most attendees loved them, but an ATL commenter called “The Gays” complained:

I guess the memo didn’t make it to the S&C gays. We don’t use Kiehl’s any longer…we’ve moved on to Malin & Goetz.

So what did SullCrom provide the following year? Yup, you guessed it: toiletries made by Malin + Goetz.
This year, however, S&C scaled back. Instead of giving out costly cosmetics, the firm doled out dainty boxes containing four pieces of Jacques Torres chocolate (see picture at right and slideshow below). Although these handmade chocolates were delicious, they were probably less expensive to the firm than the goodie bags of prior years. [FN1]
Still, we suspect that Jacques Torres chocolates are some of the best swag given out by a law firm this year. Most Biglaw recruits would happily take four pieces of luscious chocolate over a pen with a law firm name on it.
Do you have a favorite item of law firm swag from this year? To nominate it, please email us at tips@abovethelaw.com, subject line: “Swag Contest,” with the following information:
(a) a description of the item;
(b) which firm provided it to you;
(c) an short explanation of why you love it so much; and
(d) a digital picture or pictures (REQUIRED).
Of course, we will keep the identities of nominators confidential. Please note that the swag should be from THIS YEAR. We don’t want to hear about the Vespa scooter Cravath sent you after you accepted their offer back in 2007. That was a different era, and it’s unfair to compare it with today’s tough times.
We look forward to seeing your submissions. Thanks!
[FN1] We also couldn’t help wondering whether the S&C gays decided to give out chocolate in order to fatten up the competition. After all, there are only so many eligible gay men on the island of Manhattan. Chocolate is known for its ability to put pounds on people — and, at least in some people, to provoke acne outbreaks.
Earlier: Sullivan & Cromwell Goetz With the Program
Sullivan & Cromwell and the Gays: Kiehling Them With Kindness

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