what does white shoe attorney mean

by Moshe Emard 3 min read

The white-shoe firm or, more specifically, the white-shoe law firm, is an old-fashioned term for the most prestigious employers in elite professions. The term originally was used only to refer to law firms but now may be used to describe some investment banking and management consulting firms. Why are they called white shoe law firms?

Full Answer

What is a white shoe law firm?

Nov 18, 2003 · White shoe firm is an old-fashioned slang term for the most prestigious professional employers. It once referred only to law practices, but …

What is a white shoe?

Oct 07, 2020 · What does the term white shoe mean? white-shoe. designating or characteristic of a business company, esp. a law firm or brokerage, in which the partners belong almost exclusively to the white, Protestant, upper-class elite and are thought of as being conservative. Origin of white-shoe.

Who invented the white shoe firm?

White Shoe Law Firm Meaning. Definition: An old, well-established, and prestigious law firm. Sometimes people use the expression white-shoe firm to describe other institutions that fit this criteria—not only law firms. For example, banking, accounting, finance, etc. Origin of …

What is a white-shoe company?

Oct 07, 2020 · What does white shoe law mean? a law firm or brokerage, in which the partners belong almost exclusively to the white, Protestant, upper-class elite and are thought of as being conservative. Origin of white-shoe. from the white shoes …

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Why do they call it a white shoe law firm?

The term "white shoe" derives from white buck oxfords, a men's shoe highly popular among Ivy League students in the 1950s. The term "white shoe firm" emerged in the 1970s. Over the years, a number of white-shoe firms have been acquired by bigger rivals or have gone out of business.

What does the expression white shoe mean?

Definition of white-shoe

: of, associated with, or characteristic of the privileged moneyed upper class : upper-crust a white-shoe law firm.

What is a white shoe brigade?

noun. informal Australian. (especially during the 1980s) wealthy business people of Queensland, typically property developers, perceived as aggressively commercial, vulgarly showy, and politically conservative. 'the white shoe brigade preferred the real-estate speculation model of productivity'

What is silk stocking law firm?

1 : aristocratic, wealthy a silk-stocking district a silk-stocking law firm. 2 : fashionably dressed a silk-stocking audience. 3 : of or relating to the American Federalist party.

Is Davis Polk a good firm?

According to the National Law Journal's 2021 NLJ 500 ranking of firms based on size, Davis Polk has 980 attorneys and is ranked 38th in the United States. With $1,770,000,000 gross revenue in 2020, the firm placed 15th on The American Lawyer's 2021 Am Law 200 ranking.

What is a Wall Street law firm?

Wall Street

Despite being based in New York, many firms work with clients from all over the world, dealing with financial and banking matters. Wall Street legal firms are prestigious, making it harder for young graduates to make their way up the ladder – but when they do, it's certainly rewarding.

What are white bucks?

Named for their nubuck leather construction—a buffed calfskin that has the velvety texture of suede but the hardiness of standard leather—white bucks were once an Ivy League staple, favored by 1950s college kids and rocked by doo-woppers like Pat Boone (also known as “The Kid in the White Bucks”).Aug 6, 2020

Is Skadden white shoe?

As far as modern white-shoe law firms go, few are as prestigious as Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.Dec 1, 2015

What is the most prestigious law firm in New York?

  • #1. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. SCORE 9.149. ...
  • #2. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. SCORE 9.113. ...
  • #3. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. SCORE 8.654. ...
  • #4. Skadden. SCORE 8.631. ...
  • #5. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. SCORE 8.572. ...
  • #6. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. SCORE 8.198. ...
  • #7. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. SCORE 8.093. ...
  • #8. Kirkland & Ellis.

What is the meaning of stocking a girl?

Stalking has been defined as a man following or contacting a woman, despite clear indication of disinterest by the woman, or monitoring her use of the Internet or electronic communication.

Why are they called Magic Circle firms?

It seems to be a term to describe the leading City firms and there is some truth in it." Then corporate partner at Herbert Smith Freehills and former investment banker Henry Raine said: "The phrase was coined by a legal magazine and referred to firms which were very strong in corporate or international work.

What is a white shoe firm?

A white-shoe firm is a leading professional services firm in the United States, typically a firm in existence for more than a century and one that services Fortune 500 companies. With notable exceptions, the term usually refers to management consulting, financial, and law firms, traditionally those based in ...

Where did the term "white shoe" come from?

The term originated in the Ivy League colleges and originally reflected a stereotype of old-line firms populated by White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs). The term historically had antisemitic connotations, as many of the New York firms known as "white shoe" were considered off-limits to Jews until the 1960s.

What is a magic circle?

Magic Circle, an informal term for the London headquartered law firms with the largest revenues, the most international work and which generally outperform the rest of the London market on profitability. Offshore magic circle, an informal term for leading law firms in offshore financial centers.

What is the meaning of white shoe law firm?

The white-shoe firm or, more specifically, the white-shoe law firm, is an old-fashioned term for the most prestigious employers in elite professions. The term originally was used only to refer to law firms but now may be used to describe some investment banking and management consulting firms.

Why are they called white shoe law firms?

The term originated in the Ivy League colleges and originally reflected a stereotype of old-line firms populated by White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs). The term historically had antisemitic connotations, as many of the New York firms known as “white shoe” were considered off-limits to Jews until the 1960s.

What does the term white shoe mean?

white-shoe. designating or characteristic of a business company, esp. a law firm or brokerage, in which the partners belong almost exclusively to the white, Protestant, upper-class elite and are thought of as being conservative. Origin of white-shoe.

What is white law?

White’s law, named after Leslie White and published in 1943, states that, other factors remaining constant, “culture evolves as the amount of energy harnessed per capita per year is increased, or as the efficiency of the instrumental means of putting the energy to work is increased”.

Are white bucks still in style?

That’s from about sometime in early-mid May all the way to late October. Though we tend to avoid very obvious summertime outfits after mid-September – like seersucker suits, white or cream linen suits, white bucks. A tan or stone poplin suit is still fair game, though.9 мая 2019 г.

What are the most prestigious law firms?

Without any further ado, here are the Top 10 Most Prestigious Law Firms based on Vault’s Annual Associate Survey for 2021:

What is the best law firm in the United States?

List of largest law firms by revenueRankFirmRevenue (US$)1Kirkland & Ellis$3,165,110,0002Latham & Watkins$3,063,992,0003Baker McKenzie (verein)$2,900,000,0004DLA Piper (verein)$2,634,094,000

What does "white shoe" mean?

Definition: An old, well-established, and prestigious law firm. Sometimes people use the expression white-shoe firm to describe other institutions that fit this criteria—not only law firms. For example, banking, accounting, finance, etc.

Where did the term "white buckskin shoes" come from?

This expression comes from the white buckskin shoes that students wore at Ivy League schools. Those students often went on to get good jobs in the best law firms. It originated around the 1950s.

Why are they called white shoe law firms?

The term originated in the Ivy League colleges and originally reflected a stereotype of old-line firms populated by White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs). The term historically had antisemitic connotations, as many of the New York firms known as “white shoe” were considered off-limits to Jews until the 1960s.

What does white shoe law mean?

a law firm or brokerage, in which the partners belong almost exclusively to the white, Protestant, upper-class elite and are thought of as being conservative. Origin of white-shoe. from the white shoes fashionable at Ivy-League colleges in the 1950s. MLA Style.

What are the most prestigious law firms?

Without any further ado, here are the Top 10 Most Prestigious Law Firms based on Vault’s Annual Associate Survey for 2021:

Are white bucks still in style?

That’s from about sometime in early-mid May all the way to late October. Though we tend to avoid very obvious summertime outfits after mid-September – like seersucker suits, white or cream linen suits, white bucks. A tan or stone poplin suit is still fair game, though.9 мая 2019 г.

How do you use white shoe polish?

To use shoe polish, start by brushing the shoes free of dirt or giving them a quick going over with a damp, sudsy sponge and removing the laces. Then, using a soft cloth like an old t-shirt, apply a thin layer of polish to the shoe, let it dry, and then buff using a shoe brush or a clean soft cloth. That’s all!

Why are they called Magic Circle firms?

It seems to be a term to describe the leading City firms and there is some truth in it.” Then corporate partner at Herbert Smith Freehills and former investment banker Henry Raine said: “The phrase was coined by a legal magazine and referred to firms which were very strong in corporate or international work.

How much does a Wall Street lawyer make?

Milbank lawyers in their first eight years of practice will get raises of between 4.8% and 6.4% this year. Associates at the top of the scale will make $330,000 a year. Milbank’s move comes two years after the last widespread raise in junior-lawyer pay, which set incoming salaries at $180,000.

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Overview

A white-shoe firm is a term that is used to describe prestigious professional services firms that have traditionally been associated with the upper-class elite (usually White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) who graduated from Ivy League colleges. The term is most often used to describe leading law firms and Wall Street financial institutions, as well as accounting firms that are over a century old, typically in New York City and Boston.

Etymology

The phrase derives from "white bucks", laced suede or buckskin (or Nubuck) shoes, usually with a red sole, long popular among the student body of Ivy League colleges. A 1953 Esquire article, describing social strata at Yale University, explained that "White Shoe applies primarily to the socially ambitious and the socially smug types who affect a good deal of worldly sophistication, run, ride and drink in rather small cliques, and look in on the second halves of football games wh…

Usage

The term originated in the Ivy League colleges and originally reflected a stereotype of old-line firms populated by White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs). The term historically had antisemitic connotations, as many of the New York firms known as "white shoe" were considered off-limits to Jews until the 1960s. The phrase has since lost some of this connotation, but is still defined by Princeton University's WordNetas "denoting a company or law firm owned and run by members o…

Examples

The following U.S. firms are often referred to as being white-shoe firms:
The current Big Four accounting firms and the former Big Eight auditors from which they merged:
• Deloitte (merged from Deloitte Haskins & Sells and Touche Ross)
• Ernst & Young (merged from Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young)

Equivalent law firms outside the United States

Australia Big Six. In 2012, three of these firms merged with overseas firms, and one other began operating in association with an overseas firm. As a consequence, it has proposed that the term is no longer applicable to the Australian legal profession, displaced by the concept of Global Elite law firms or International Business law firms. Canada (Toronto) Seven Sisters China (People's Republic) Red Circle, coined by The Lawyer magazine in 2014. Japan Big Four New Zealand Big …

Further reading

• Oller, John, White Shoe: How a New Breed of Wall Street Lawyers Changed Big Business--and the American Century
• Wald, Eli, "The rise and fall of the WASP and Jewish law firms." Stanford Law Review 60 (2007): 1803-1866 online

External links

• Chambliss, Elizabeth (September–October 2005). "Terms of Art". Legal Affairs.
• Lin, Anthony (May 16, 2006). "Can the 'Jewish Law Firm' Success Story Be Duplicated?". New York Law Journal.
1. ^ Oller, John (March 19, 2019). White Shoe: How a New Breed of Wall Street Lawyers Changed Big Business and the American Century. Penguin. ISBN 9781524743277 – via Google Books.