Patterson Belknap logo
Patterson Belknap logo

Patterson Belknap

1133 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
(212) 336-2000

Overview

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NYC skyline

Introduction

From its single New York office, Patterson Belknap is a heavy hitter across a full spectrum of litigation and corporate services. The firm is also vigorously devoted to pro bono, with an impressive resume of various matters and a long-standing 100% attorney participation rate in the program. To highlight one example, the firm received Benchmark Litigation’s 2021 “Pro Bono Firm of the Year” award for its work representing a union of Department of Homeland Security officers who...

Firm Stats


Total No. Attorneys (2021)

150 - 250

No. of Partners Named (2021)

3

Featured Rankings

Best Law Firms for Integration of Laterals & Clerks


No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2020)

8


Base Salary

All offices


No. of U.S. Offices

1

Vault Verdict

Personality fit is key to landing a spot at Patterson Belknap, and if you’re pursuing litigation, a clerkship is key. In addition to sophisticated work, the firm’s culture is clearly a high point—while attorneys prioritize personal and family time, the work-day atmosphere is social, collegial, and warm. Partners treat associates as equals and are invested in their career development. The firm is transparent with respect to big-picture information, although associates wish for more clarity into certain aspects, such as promotion prospects. The billable-hours requirement is 1,850 hours plus 250 for other tasks—like pro bono and admin work—and associates feel it’s reasonable. It also doesn’t hurt that if they don’t hit their hours, they can still earn 50% of their bonus. Because of t...

About the Firm

With around 200 attorneys working out of its single outpost in Manhattan, Patterson Belknap may seem like a modest operation relative to New York’s megafirms, but the firm holds its own. Handling litigation and corporate matters on behalf of clients from such disparate fields as media, financial services, banking, private equity and life sciences, the firm also represents nonprofits and foundations on a wide range of matters. 

A Distinguished Career

Patterson Belknap was founded in New York City in 1919. Leading name partner Robert P. Patterson was a veteran, judge—sitting on the U.S. District Court and then the Second Circuit—and Harry Truman's Secretary of War. In the late 1940s, Patterson joined the firm that would become Patterson Belknap, joined by his Harvard classmates ...

Associate Reviews


  • “The people are what make Patterson special. My colleagues are kind, personable, and easy to work with. The firm strikes the right balance of having opportunities for attorneys to socialize but not forcing people to spend too much time away from their families to attend work events.”
  • “Very collegial. Not in the standard joke that every firm says they're collegial, but in the very real way that people respect boundaries, business hours, and vacation. Accordingly, this is not the big...

Why Work Here


Culture & Inclusion at Patterson Belknap

"Patterson Belknap is dedicated to being the best place in New York to practice law. In pursuit of that goal, the firm works hard to maintain an atmosphere of dignity, civility and respect in which all of its attorneys and staff, whatever their backgrounds, are comfortable and can flourish. Promoting diversity has long been an important element of the firm’s growth and evolution. Over the past several years, the firm has focused additional attention on recruiting and retaining lawyers with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Improving..."

Getting Hired Here


  • “In litigation, the firm hires mostly from clerkships. This inherently focuses the hiring on a particular type of associate—academically accomplished, intellectual, and good at writing. The interview process is more substantive than at many firms, as the firm is looking to hire attorneys who can jump into serious legal work, rather than bodies to churn hours.”
  • “Because my firm largely hires judicial law clerks, the hiring process is fairly competitive. Nevertheless, it does not appear ...

Perks & Benefits