Career Center Survey Results: Top Partners to Work For – California (Part 1)

Welcome to the West Coast edition of the Career Center’s Top Partners to Work For. For the past few weeks, we have revealed the best partners to work for in New York and Washington, D.C., as nominated by you, our readers.

Now we make our way across the country to present you with the first set of California partners who hail from the prestigious firms of Sidley Austin, Sedgwick, DLA Piper, Orrick, Arent Fox, and Sullivan & Cromwell.

Let’s find out why these six partners are truly stellar….

David Anderson. A Sidley Austin litigation partner, Anderson “is the partner who actually takes time to get to know associates; he was a first assistant AUSA and he is willing to train us.” The associate adds: “It is a pleasure to work with him, and I have made sure to stay on white collar cases so that I can keep getting the training and mentoring.”

Frederick Baker. For one associate, it’s clear why Baker, a Sedgwick appellate partner, is one of the top partners: “Fred is the best boss I’ve worked for, and I’ve worked for a lot of them, in a lot of different jobs. If Fred left the firm, then I’d probably follow him.”

Richard de Bodo. An IP litigation partner and co-chair of DLA Piper’s Patent Litigation practice, de Bodo receives the following praise: “Rich de Bodo is an outstanding, Chambers-rated IP lawyer with an amazing mind and exceptional experience, both of which he shares with associates as he looks for other viewpoints on strategy and how to work a case. Associates are given immense responsibilities and should expect to work very hard, but the training you receive, the critical thinking skills, and the experience is well worth it. He shows you how to be all you can be and more than you ever thought you were capable of. Working for Rich is like becoming a SEAL – hard, hard work, but when you come out you are the best of the best.”

Anthony De Corso. An associate who previously worked for De Corso, an Orrick litigation partner, describes him as “the only Biglaw partner I can actually say was a pleasure to work for.” In addition, he is “both a great lawyer and a great person and doesn’t assign work based on hierarchy.”

Carla Feldman. An associate who formerly worked for Feldman, an Arent Fox labor and employment partner, doesn’t mince words: “In the ruthless world of Biglaw employment (where the margins are razor thin), Carla was brilliant, industrious, and ethical. It’s an ugly microcosm, but Carla was a shining beacon of integrity and decency. I hate everyone (as I am a Biglaw associate), but I would f**king throw myself in front a train to help Carla. I’ve worked at four big firms, and she is the best in all regards.”

Hydee Feldstein. Feldstein, a Sullivan & Cromwell banking and bankruptcy partner, sets the bar for the firm in all survey categories and is an “[e]xcellent partner to work for — she inspires one to be a better attorney.”

Next week, we will wrap up our coverage of the top California partners whom associates enjoy working for. In the meantime, you can find out more about the top law firms at which these partners work by visiting the Career Center, powered by Lateral Link.