Fenwick

About Fenwick  

Fenwick is a top-tier law firm with an open and inclusive culture. With more than 1,000 lawyers and business professionals located in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Seattle, New York, Washington, DC, and Shanghai, the firm works with companies on the cutting edge of technology and life sciences. For more than five decades, Fenwick has helped some of the world’s most recognized companies become and remain market leaders. In recent years, it has earned coast-to-coast recognitions as a Best Place to Work in the Bay Area and New York City.

Why Fenwick 

Chambers Global consistently recognizes Fenwick as one of the world’s leading law firms working the technology companies. At Fenwick, you will have the opportunity to provide comprehensive legal services to leading technology and life sciences companies. Lawyers work collaboratively across offices and practices to deliver innovative, cost-effective and practical solutions in areas that include venture capital, public offerings, joint ventures, M&A and strategic relationships; intellectual property and technology transactions; litigation and dispute resolution; antitrust and regulatory issues; employment and labor law, and taxation.  

Careers at Fenwick 

Whether you’re just starting out in your career, have your sights set on becoming a partner, or are aiming to eventually work in-house for one of its clients, Fenwick offers ample growth opportunities.  

Fenwick’s Free Market System empowers associates to be in the driver’s seat of their careers by seeking out the work opportunities they are interested in across offices in their practice group. The Fenwick First integration process helps new associates ramp up quickly to navigate the opportunities and responsibilities of the free market. 

• Professional Development opportunities through Fenwick University programs provide skill development during critical transitional points in an associate’s career, as well as a substantive legal training curriculum informed by experiences at the cutting edge of the practice of law. 
• Relationships are at the core of Fenwick’s success, and that starts with the firm’s nationally lauded mentoring programs and new hire integration plans. Relationships  are also built through employee referral programs, early client contact and participation in local and national legal organizations. 

An Entrepreneurial Culture 

Ever inspired by its clients, Fenwick relentlessly pursues innovation—of the practice of law, strengthening client relationships, enhancing a culture and enriching diversity. 

• The firm celebrates and embraces each person’s unique attributes and talents, and prizes being a community that values cooperation, respect and mutual understanding.  
• Associates make institutional contributions beyond just billable hours. They have a voice in shaping the firm’s culture and a role in shaping its future.  
• The firm’s size entrepreneurial spirit enables close collaboration, allowing people to work effectively together within and across practices and offices. One firm, one team. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Diversity has been a core firm value since the firm’s establishment. The firm’s commitment to diversity is supported by the policies and programs, and also sustained by a culture that values strength from difference. 

Benefits and Perks: In addition to market-level compensation and bonuses, Fenwick offers associates generous perks and benefits, including a market-leading parental leave program. Associates exceeding their billable hour expectation are eligible to participate in a variety of programs, including access to firm condos in Hawaii or the Caribbean, special bonuses and funds in the Rest, Relaxation and Recreation program. 

Pro Bono: Every year, Fenwick lawyers donate more than 3% of their total billable hours to pro bono legal services, and the firm and individual lawyers have received numerous accolades for their contributions. In 2022, Fenwick received the National Public Service Award from the American Bar Association’s business section. 

Flexibility: As people return to the office, Fenwick continues to support the flexibility to set schedules and work from home. The firm provides new employees with a stipend to establish a workstation at home. 

A Top Place to Work: Fenwick has been recognized by various organizations, including: 

• Named No. 1 Law Firm Nationally in The American Lawyer’s 2021 inaugural Composite Ranking Index of key measures of financial and diversity performance 
• 100% Score (A+ Rating) on The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index for pro-LGBTQ policies and working environment 
• Honored among the 50 Best Law Firms for Women by Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media) for a fourth year 
• Best National Law Firm for Women in Business at the Americas Women in Business Law Awards by Euromoney 
• One of the Best Places to Work by Silicon Valley Business Journal, San Francisco Business Times, and Crain’s New York 
• Achieved Mansfield 4.0 Certification Plus status from Diversity Lab for diversity in leadership 

Hear from the Fenwick Team

“When I first joined Fenwick, I was immediately given the opportunity to work with major tech clients, like Cisco and Facebook. That was a really important springboard for building up my own practice.”

Ken Myers, Corporate Partner

“I’ve built my career here, starting as a summer associate and now being a partner. Fenwick’s emphasis on mentorship, from members of the African American Attorney Affinity Group to senior partners, has had a huge impact on my success.”

Allison Cooper, Corporate Partner

“I joined the firm as a lateral associate three years ago, and it was one of the best decisions of my career so far. As a senior associate, Fenwick gives me the platform to work on complex and interesting litigation matters with a large degree of autonomy, as well as a supportive community of lawyers and professional staff around me.”

Vanessa Park-Thompson, Litigation Associate