Why Work Here

The Opening Statement

At Quinn Emanuel you will not have to wait 8 to 10 years to do interesting work.

Some of the best trial lawyers in the country will show you how to become a master of the courtroom. If you believe you have the potential to do these things before your peers, Quinn Emanuel is the place for you. Every year, a new cadre of gifted young lawyers with their pick of job offers makes Quinn Emanuel their first choice.

You will meet clients to give them advice

Not to sit and listen

You will go to court to argue

Not to carry someone’s bag

You will attend depositions to examine witnesses

Not to take notes

You will compete with your adversaries

Not other lawyers at the firm

Trial Lawyers, Not Just Litigators

$80 million verdict

It is an open secret that very few big United States law firms try many cases anymore. Quinn Emanuel does. Unlike most large corporate firms, we do not litigate cases for years only to settle on the courthouse steps. We try lots of cases—and win them. See a representative list of our notable trials and settlements. We are frequently brought in at the eleventh hour to replace existing counsel before trial (after they fail to obtain summary judgment) and in several cases even in the middle of trial. Once we took over an antitrust case three weeks into the trial—and won an $80 million verdict. See a representative list of recent matters in which we have been substituted in as trial counsel.

Trial Lawyers, Not Bag Carriers

Our emphasis is on quality, not quantity. We staff leanly. This means many of our associates get to work on trials. We try cases for some of the most successful companies in the world including:

Google
CNA
Micron
Samsung
Coca-Cola
Morgan Stanley
SONY
Colgate-Palmolive
Northrop
HTC
DIRECTV
Grumman
Symantec
Dow Chemical
Pfizer
Cisco
Genentech
Roche
Motorola
IBM
Home Depot
Seiko
Qualcomm
Epson
AIG
Johnson & Johnson
Shell Oil
American Express
Mattel
Chevron
Barnes & Noble
Zurich

and many others. They hire us because they know that—unlike the "litigation departments" at most big firms—we try cases. They hire us because they like the work and the people they work with.

There is no place for the rigid hierarchies and bureaucracies of more conventional law firms. We believe unnecessary rules stifle creativity and prevent motivated new lawyers from serving clients. Our lawyers expect to play a major role in significant cases—and we make certain that they do.

Pro Bono Work & Charitable Giving

Quinn Emanuel is dedicated to providing pro bono legal services to individuals and organizations throughout the world. We seek out pro bono opportunities that will get associates hearing and trial experience. Up to 100 hours of pro bono work are counted towards bonuses based on billable hours. Associates are welcome to initiate pro bono projects, subject to obtaining partner approval and sponsorship.

The firm has a longstanding relationship with Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Harvard Law School's Criminal Justice Institute, Public Counsel, and the Alliance for Children's Rights, among many other organizations, to provide a variety of pro bono legal services.

Quinn Emanuel has provided pro bono legal services in a number of distinguished cases in a wide variety of subject areas. Click here if you would like to see examples.

Quinn Emanuel also has a longstanding commitment to supporting meaningful causes around the world through its charitable foundation. Over the last 13 years, the firm has donated millions of dollars to a variety of causes, including natural disaster relief, cancer research, veterans services, legal aid services, violence intervention, and education. Click here to see examples of charitable projects in which the firm has been involved.

Quinn Emanuel Global Programs

Our Global Experience program allows associates to get away from the office and work in an exciting new environment. Quinn Emanuel provides eligible associates with $4,000 to get them to any location they choose anywhere in the world for one week. Different groups have chosen beach resorts in Turkey, Colombia and Hawaii. Participating associates are assigned to small travel groups of 6-10 members from multiple offices. This gives them the opportunity to get to know attorneys from other offices. While the destination options are endless, there are some rules, including 24/7 connectivity and a full Monday through Friday work week.

Our Global Exchange program allows eligible associates to work out of another Quinn Emanuel office for two weeks. The firm will provide up to $5,000 to help with travel and living expenses. Participants have the chance to meet other attorneys, explore a new QE city, and build relationships with other offices.

Women Rise To The Top

We are a meritocracy. Perhaps that is why so many women partners have leadership roles. The facts speak for themselves.

Kathleen Sullivan

Only woman whose name is on the door at one of the 200 largest U.S. law firms; former Dean of Stanford Law School; Chair of Appellate Practice.

Diane Doolittle

Co-Chair of National Trial Practice.

Rachel Herrick-Kassabian

Chair of Internet Litigation Practice.

Margret Caruso

Co-Chair of Trademark Practice and Co-Chair of Copyright Practice.

Victoria Maroulis

Co-Chair of National Intellectual Property Litigation Practice and Co-Chair of the National Life Sciences Practice.

Michelle Fox

Managing Partner Sydney and Perth Offices.

Jennifer Barrett

Co-Managing Partner New York Office.

Danielle Gilmore

Chair of National Insurance Recovery Practice.

Randa Osman

Chair of Employment Litigation & Counseling Practice.

Liesl Fichardt

Chair of Tax Disputes Practice.

Kate Vernon

Co-Head of Competition, London.

Manisha M. Sheth

Co-Chair of the Government and Regulatory Litigation Practice and Co-Chair of Sexual Harassment & Employment Discrimination Practice Group.

Maaren A. Shah

Co-Chair of the firm’s Art Litigation and Disputes Practice.

Viola Trebicka

Co-Chair of the firm's Art Litigation & Disputes Practice and Co-Chair of firm's Insurance Practice.

Julianne Hughes-Jennett

Chair of Business and Human Rights Litigation Practice.

Rachel Epstein

Co-Chair of Copyright Practice, Co-Chair of Trademark Practice, and Co-Chair of Trade Dress Practice Group.

Crystal Nix-Hines

Co-Chair Crisis Law & Strategy Group and Chair of Education Practice.

Sarah Heaton Concannon

Co-Chair SEC Enforcement Practice.

Diane Cafferata

Co-Chair Sexual Harassment & Employment Discrimination Practice.

Melissa Baily

Managing Partner San Francisco Office.

Alicia Cobb

Managing Partner Seattle Office.

Debra Bernstein

Managing Partner Atlanta Office.

Haiyan Tang

Co-Managing Partner Shanghai Office.

Aliki Sofis

Co-Managing Partner Boston Office.

Elinor Sutton

Managing Partner Dallas Office.

Brianne Straka

Co-Managing Partner Chicago Office.

Kristin Tahler

Co-Chair of the Global Asset Recovery Practice.

Meghan McCaffrey

Co-Managing Partner Washington, D.C. Office.

Building Friendships

Partners, associates and summer associates build friendships outside the traditional boundaries of work. Firm events, such as the annual firm hike help break down the conventional barriers and hierarchies that characterize many law firms.

Victoria, British Columbia
Interlaken, Switzerland
Durango, Colorado
The Beartooths, Montana
Taos, New Mexico
Olympic National Park, Washington
Bend, Oregon
Big Sur, California
Wind River, Wyoming
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Zion Canyon, Utah
Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska
Mt. St. Helens, Washington
Dolomites, Italy
The Laugavegur Trail, Iceland
Mt. Fuji, Japan

New Partners Per Year

Partnership Consideration

Associates are considered when they are seven years out of law school. We consistently make more new partners than other large firms.

2011
8
2012
8
2013
10
2014
13
2015
11
2016
9
2017
13
2018
9
2019
14
2020
9
2021
11
2022
18
2023
7
2024
14
2025
11

Commitment To Diversity: Facts Not Promises

The best proof of our commitment to diversity is that so many minority group lawyers with outstanding credentials join us. Over 20% of our lawyers are minority group members. 74 of our 298 partners are women and 47 are minority group members. Seventeen of the firm's 57 core Practice Groups are headed by women, and 11 of the firm's branch office managing partners are women. We are proud to be the first AmLaw 100 Firm with a woman named partner (Kathleen Sullivan) and in 2024, ten of the fourteen elected lawyers to the firm’s partnership were women.

We Will Train You - Really

Our goal is to provide every associate the opportunity to master the skills needed to be comfortable in a courtroom. To that end the firm offers the opportunities described below.

Additional Associate in Trial

The best way to learn how to try cases is to work on them. We place an additional junior associate on every trial and arbitration team—at no cost to the client. The additional associate is given an in-court role, for example, preparing and/or displaying graphics, reviewing deposition testimony, revising cross-examination outlines, managing exhibits, and assisting the other team members with any other needed tasks.

In-House Trial Advocacy Courses

The firm offers associates three trial advocacy training programs taught by the best trial advocacy instructors in the country—our own partners. Many firm partners have taught advanced trial advocacy at law schools like Harvard, USC, Berkeley and Stanford. Others have taught the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (“NITA”), and in other programs such as the Attorney General’s Advocacy Institute.

Basic Trial Advocacy

Using materials and mock case files from NITA, associates participate in a 50-hour program of demonstrations, lectures and practice exercises, which include extensive use of video review. This program culminates in a full-day mock trial using jurors hired by the firm. The participants try a case from the voir dire of potential jurors through trial to verdict.

Advanced Trial Advocacy

This program is offered in alternate years to all associates who have taken the basic trial advocacy course. As the name implies, this course focuses on other more complex areas of trials such as examining experts, controlling obnoxious witnesses, and advanced use of graphics.

Deposition Skills

After completing the Basic Trial Advocacy course, associates can participate in the firm’s Deposition Skills program.

Appellate Advocacy

Led by name partner Kathleen M. Sullivan (former Harvard Law School Professor and Dean of Stanford Law School) this program focuses on mastering the skills—both written and oral—that are needed to be an effective appellate advocate.

Hear what some previous associates have to say about this invaluable experience:

I recently had the opportunity to observe preeminent trial attorneys defend a high-profile client in a notorious dispute. Though the arbitration itself was confidential, the story leading to this particular case is infamous. The client was fortunate to have a team of four trial attorneys, fearlessly led by John Quinn and Michael Williams, who ingeniously advocated on its behalf. My week of AAIT started as the first week of arbitration was coming to a close and the team was ramping up for the second week. Within hours of the first week’s end I was given assignments that allowed me to delve into the facts of this case– from creating compilations of key deposition testimony to reviewing documents that would be used as evidence the very next day, the team let me jump right in. In addition to a key percipient witness, three experts and two other percipient witnesses were called to testify during my week of AAIT. Not only was I able to watch these expert witnesses testify at the arbitration, but I was also given the opportunity to assist in their preparation. Both Noah Helpern and Alex Bergjans, an Of Counsel and associate in the Los Angeles office, allowed me to watch as they skillfully prepared their respective witnesses. These two artfully addressed the witness’ concerns and calmed their nerves. Then, once at the arbitration, I watched both Noah and Alex elicit testimony from these witnesses with an unmatched ease. Seeing what goes into witness preparation made me appreciate the agility that each of member of the QE team impressively implemented when adapting to answers and cross examination questions that came up during the testimony. This ability to immediately adjust and creatively refute each of opposing counsel’s seemingly promising arguments is what I found most impressive. Twice during cross examination of our witnesses I thought that opposing counsel may have snuck in a point that strengthened their case; and twice, through re-direct examination quickly crafted by John and Michael, these points were invalidated. From each member of the team, I learned the dexterity and skill that goes into effective lawyering. Thank you all again for this invaluable and unforgettable opportunity!

Chelsea Gumaer, Los Angeles Associate

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