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Sidley Austin, LLP

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published June 18, 2007

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Employing more than 1,600 lawyers, Sidley Austin is one of the world's premier law firms. Sidley combines experience, in-depth knowledge, and quality to supply a broad range of legal services to meet the needs of its clients.

Sidley's global network of offices provides integrated multi-jurisdictional and cross-jurisdictional legal services, and Sidley lawyers work collaboratively to offer outstanding service to the firm's local, regional, national, and international clients. It is a full-service law firm, with vast experience in transaction and litigation matters. As the sixth-largest U.S.-based corporate law firm with offices in 16 cities worldwide, Sidley generates more than $1 billion in annual revenue.


Established in 1980, Sidley's Los Angeles office has more than 150 lawyers and is among the top 10 largest law firms in the city. Located at 555 W. Fifth Street in downtown Los Angeles, its client list is envied by its peers. The firm's clients include Fortune 100 and 500 companies, financial institutions, professional firms, associations, and individuals in a diverse range of industries.

In addition to corporate law and finance, the firm's areas of expertise include litigation, real estate, commercial and intellectual property, taxation, securities, trusts and estates, healthcare, and bankruptcy. The firm's website states, "Each of our local practice groups...work[s] closely with [the] other[s] as well as with our other U.S. and overseas offices to ensure that our clients' expectations are not only met but exceeded."

The California team has been involved in a number of Chapter 11 cases, acting for shareholders and secured and unsecured creditors. Richard Havel, who holds a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law, heads the Los Angeles team and has a solid Chapter 11 practice; he often acts for equity groups and hedge funds. Sally Neely, a graduate of Stanford Law, is another Sidley lawyer universally known as a "wonderful" bankruptcy attorney.

Sherwin Samuels, senior counsel for Sidley Austin, has been involved in many important cases for the firm. Samuels earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and obtained his law degree from Boalt Hall at the University of California-Berkeley at the young age of 23. He went on to become one of the top lawyers in the nation. He is most proud of the case involving the Starwood Hotels resorts, which helped the organization go from "a struggling, beaten-down company with a total market capitalization of less than $10 million in 1994...to the current market cap of $15.6 billion."
United States

The events that transformed the company were the involvement of Barry Sternlicht and the Starwood Capital Group and the resulting reorganization and recapitalization of the company, which involved its acquisition of other huge resorts and hotels, including The Westin Hotels, the Sheraton, the St. Regis, and Caesars Palace and the Desert Inn in Las Vegas. Sidley Austin was involved in all of these transactions, and Sherwin Samuels was the principal client contact, both as outside counsel and inside for about six months as interim general counsel. Samuels's main focus is "assisting companies and their boards," and his efforts clearly transformed this into a landmark case for Sidley Austin and helped generate billions of dollars for Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

The firm often appears at the top of various industry rankings. In 2005, the BTI Consulting Group named Sidley to its Client Service Hall of Fame, and Sidley was also named "No. 1 Power Elite Firm" for the same year. The firm was placed in 14 categories on The American Lawyer's Corporate Scorecard, landing in number-one positions as issuer's counsel in equities offered by U.S. corporations, issuer's and underwriter's counsel for investment-grade debt, and underwriter's counsel for REIT debt. Another recent honor was the 2005 Catalyst Award, conferred in recognition of the firm's initiatives to retain and promote women attorneys.

Some famous alumni have been involved with Sidley Austin in recent years. Barack Obama was a summer associate in the Chicago office and met his wife, Michelle Obama (an associate at Sidley at the time), during his time at the firm. John Zeglis, the former chief executive officer of AT&T Wireless, was an associate and partner in the Chicago office during the late 1970s and early 1980s. David S. Tatel, a judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, started his legal career at Sidley. Newton Minow, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission under President John F. Kennedy, was a partner in the Chicago office from 1965 to 1991 and continues to serve as senior counsel to the firm.

Sidley Austin has also established itself as a premier California law firm that devotes time and capital to the communities it serves. The firm participates in a variety of pro bono and charitable activities including "sponsoring, public-interest law fellowships at UCLA and USC law schools, and numerous public-interest fundraising events." Sidley combines the personal attention of a medium-sized office with the sophistication, resources, and power of one of the world's largest firms and offers superior personal and results-oriented service to members of the community.

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

  • Immigration law
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Insurance defense
  • Family law
  • Trusts & estates
  • Municipal law
  • And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

  • Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
  • Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
  • Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
  • Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

  • Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
  • Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
  • Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

  • Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
  • Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
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