CC billing 'obsession'

Clifford Chance is slowly moving up in the eyes of US lawyers, despite what many of its associates say is an 'obsession' with billable hours.

A survey of more than 9,500 associates in the top US firms scored New York-based Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells (as it is known in the US) as the 25th most prestigious firm in the country, up from 28th last year.

The survey by careers Web site TheVault.com found no clear culture at the firm, although a few associates said there was a 'laid-back' atmosphere thanks to 'the influence of the Brits'.

But others said that, as a result of the merger, 'the culture has shifted dramatically', becoming 'increasingly less social and more competitive for work and billable hours'.

Opinions varied as to the quality of work, although the survey noted that associates may turn down senior lawyers they do not want to work for.

'This adds to a sort of mutual market system, where senior attorneys who by nature are difficult to work for are incentivised to change (to get good junior associates) as much as junior associates are incentivised to do well (to get good work with good senior attorneys),' the report stated.

Many insiders called the firm's billable hours requirement 'definitely an obsession' and the 2,200-hour requirement 'oppressive'.

There is a further target of 220 hours of general office time.

The firm said the 2,200-hour benchmark is for bonus eligibility, adding that many associates who billed less received a bonus.

Some associates told the survey that long hours are 'what we get paid for' and colleagues 'can always work less hours and take less money elsewhere'.

New York firm Cravath Swaine & Moore was voted most prestigious.