Covington & Burling

Coveted for its stellar regulatory expertise, this Washington insider knows a thing or two about working with government...

About the Firm

There are some firms that seem at home in the corridors of power, and then there’s Covington & Burling, which has practically moved in there. When it comes to all things regulatory, the firm has an abundance of connections and a depth of expertise shaped by years and years in the game.

This is amply confirmed by its best-in-class accolades in areas such as government contracts, political law, and food & beverages:regulatory & litigation (among many others), according to our sister guide Chambers USA. Moreover, as one of the kingpins of the Capitol, the firm scoops up further rankings within the DC market for practices working on antitrust, pharmaceutical regulation, insurance, IP litigation, and telecom, broadcast & satellites, as well as recognition for its employee benefits and corporate/M&A & private equity know-how.

“There is an enormous depth of regulatory expertise across lots of different areas.”

Our associate sources confirmed that the chance to tackle top-drawer regulatory work undoubtedly forms a huge part of the firm’s appeal. “There is an enormous depth of regulatory expertise across lots of different areas,” one enthused, while another described being drawn to Covington as the “biggest firm in DC, one of the oldest and with a long reputation of being good at government-facing work.”

However, if you’re starting to worry that the firm sounds like it’s only for ruthless political operators, associates were also keen to emphasis the second pillar of its USP: a crusading commitment to pro bono. Covington is a consistent fixture amongst the firms racking up the most pro bono hours per attorney each year, a fact which clearly isn’t lost on prospective applicants. “Pro bono is the big one,” one associate said of their reasons for joining, and another rated “emphasis on pro bono” alongside Covington’s culture of teamworkas the firm’s “big selling points.”

The point about teamwork was also echoed by many others (with one noting that it’s baked into the firm’s lockstep incentive structures, which “create a collaborative culture without sacrificing excellence”), hopefully providing additional reassurance that this politics-focused firm is more of a welcoming home than a House of Cards.

In terms of where exactly that home is located, most of the junior associates we spoke to could be found (unsurprisingly) in the Washington, DC office, closely followed by New York. Outside this Beltway-to-Broadway axis, the firm also assigns newbies to its bases in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Los Angeles and Boston. Meanwhile, its international network includes eight hubs in cities such as London, Dubai, Frankfurt, Brussels, and Beijing.

Summer Program

Covington’s ten-week summer program was described by its alumni as a well-oiled machine, which is “very well planned in terms of the professional work, the networking and fun team bonding.” Summer associates are able to take on significant responsibility quickly: “You get treated like a first-year associate in terms of substantive expectations (although the timing expectations are different!),” an insider recalled. This can include getting involved in research tasks, drafting memos for NGOs and commercial clients, and business development work. There are also mock exercises to provide further insight into the associate experience. Summers are paired with a senior lawyer mentor, and we heard that “the firm does a good job at matching personalities and interests.”

As for the social calendar, this includes its fair share of lunches and dinners, as well as activities ranging from minigolf and ‘paint and sips’ to baseball games and Broadway shows. However, be warned: one associate reports that it was “very difficult for me to go back to law school after the program,” as they got so much more out of their summer at Covington.

Strategy & Future

“Our bread and butter is a combination of regulatory expertise and knowledge of policy and policymakers, that is really unmatched,” Douglas Gibson, chair of Covington’s management committee, tells us. Nonetheless, he is also keen to stress that this isn’t the limit to the firm’s horizons, as “We combine that breadth of regulatory expertise with world class litigation, investigations and corporate expertise.”

This combo seems to be paying off, judging by the numerous headline-grabbing matters the firm has handled over the past year, including: acting as regulatory counsel for ByteDance TikTok on the creation of its US business; advising Meta in over 1,000 cases filed on behalf of school districts and parents; and acting as antitrust counsel to Warner Brothers Discovery regarding its potential takeover by Netflix.

Although the firm has a storied history, it also remains attuned to the rapid shifts likely to reshape the legal industry. “The needs of our lawyers are constantly changing, even within generations,” Gibson acknowledges, citing this as motivation for the continual updating of the firm’s training, feedback, and mentoring policies. One aspect of that is artificial intelligence, Gibson explains; “we want to make sure that we’re using AI most effectively to deliver high-quality and efficient services to our clients and so, we’re very focused on having our lawyers and business professionals trained in those areas.”

The firm is also increasingly keen to help its attorneys manage people as well as bots. “We’ve heard from our lawyers that leadership and management training are very important, so we’re focusing more on this content for all levels of seniority,” Gibson notes, highlighting the availability of one-on-one coaching and bespoke resources, both in person and online.

Read more from our conversation with Douglas Gibson under the ‘Get Hired’ tab.

The Work

Sources were pleased with the hybrid work allocation system, calling it the “best of both worlds.” The centralized staffing system is operated by assigning partners who distribute assignments, with oversight into associate capacity levels. Associates are also encouraged to raise their hands for work outside of the system. “The staffing system is a good backstop to have,” a junior explained, as “it lends itself to building relationships and working with people that you mesh well with.”

Career Development

Newbies begin their time at Covington with a new associate integration seminar over three days, providing an opportunity for attendees to meet other attorneys. Corporate juniors are also able to take part in a Corporate Associate Orientation Training. As they progress, associates attend first a mid-level and then a senior associate seminar to mark each stage of their career development.

Throughout, additional training continues, covering essential skills, as well as subjects from implementing AI to other more specific practice-related topics. That said, many felt that “most development happens informally, in real time,” thanks to colleagues constantly volunteering to train them on any unfamiliar task they encounter.

“I have multiple partners and senior associates invested heavily in my development.”

Each junior is paired with a mid- to senior-associate mentor to answer any questions and to help them navigate firm life. “It has been really amazing,” was one mentee’s assessment, as “I have multiple partners and senior associates invested heavily in my development who are willing to show me the ropes and make me a good lawyer.” As for the path to partnership, some of our interviewees felt that this remained somewhat uncertain, although the firm’s strong track record of promoting homegrown talent was noted.

For those who do move elsewhere, we were told that “the firm maintains a robust alumni network – no matter where you go, there is an effort to stay connected.” Indeed, we also heard about the existence of a “revolving door” between the firm and government, which might be appealing to those whose long-term plan is to take their regulatory expertise into government itself.

Hours & Compensation

Associates have a 1,950 billable target to achieve in order to be bonus eligible and deemed it “achievable.” That said, sources highlighted the need “to be intentional about hitting it,” especially those in regulatory practices where “the work tends to be lots of little projects to make up those eight-hour days.” Associates also have up to 50 hours which they can credit to activities focused on advancing the firm's values, and the unlimited pro bono bucket, to count towards the overall target. For first years, especially during the ramp up period, the combination of the centralized staffing system to allocate work and unlimited pro bono made the target reachable.

On average, sources reported billing between 40 and 50 hours a week, with the caveat that this is subject to the usual ebbs and flows of each practice. In turn, across all the US offices associates are compensated in line with the market’s going rate and rewarded with a market bonus too. And for those that go above and beyond, there are supplemental increases at each stage.

Culture

When we asked associates about the typical Covington lawyer, one word kept coming up: “nerdy.”Combined with references to being “academically minded,”“intellectually driven” and “serious about the work,” this paints a clear picture of a firm where people are proudly passionate about their job.

Social events include a monthly happy hour and quarterly practice socials, though insiders were keen to note attendance was not compulsory. Most people we spoke to felt comfortable with the firm not being the center of their social life, with one reporting that “to me it’s a plus, not a minus.” They also enjoyed the atmosphere becoming temporarily livelier during the flurry of events organized for the summer program, which “brings us together.”

Our sources enjoyed being in the office and are expected there four days a week: Monday to Thursday. It helps that “Even first years have their own offices” in the firm’s DC HQ, which is “in the city center and beautiful – all glass!” Other attractions include a free lunch on Wednesday across all offices, although a source reports that “my only gripe is there are no daily snacks.” The firm also recently moved into new digs in the Big Apple.

Pro Bono

“Some of my favorite moments have been big pro bono wins.”

As we’ve already covered, Covington’s pro bono offering was a big hit amongst our sources. “It’s a robust program with incredible opportunities,” one told us, and “a really strong selling point of the firm!” Associates particularly valued having potentially unlimited pro bono work at their fingertips; we heard that “some have billed hundreds of hours and gotten credit for all of it,” with the caveat that they're able to appropriately balance their client-billable work as well.

In terms of the logistics, the firm’s dedicated pro bono team makes it “very easy to get involved and find projects that fit everyone’s interests.” Opportunities range from advising non-profits on corporate matters to immigration and asylum cases, as well as trusts & estates work, upgrading veterans’ discharge statuses, and even high-impact civil rights litigation. For those who want to take their involvement further, there are some secondments to NGOs available as well. In essence, “the firm spares no expense” when supporting its associates’ pro bono activity, frequently covering filing fees, travel costs, and more.

For juniors, all this represents a chance to step up to the plate and gain valuable skills. “It’s an amazing experience,” one shared, noting that they benefitted from “great opportunities with research and drafting motions, and having a say on the thesis of the case and trial strategy.” Of course, sometimes the work is its own reward; another source recalled that “some of my favorite moments have been big pro bono wins, and I vividly remember the message we got back after writing to let them know it had worked out!” We also heard that efforts are celebrated at a firm-wide level, with Gibson confirming that “We view this as really important and as part of our obligation as legal professionals.”

Inclusion

When it came to inclusion, an associate told us that “it’s a key factor in making us a strong firm and they work hard to make it an emphasis.” The aforementioned billable credit available to associates who get involved is a case in point. Sources felt that “the primary driver is the resource groups, which are very well funded and strongly supported by the firm.” These resource groups span categories such as gender, identity, and common interests. In particular, the resource groups were highly praised for their focus on community and mentorship opportunities.

As such, there is plenty going on; a recent cross-section includes the Women’s Forum hosting a luncheon and attending a hockey game for National Women in Sports Day, and the Pride group hosting a secret snowflake in the run up to the holidays. Multiple associates shared their confidence that Covington’s inclusion commitments were here to stay, with one telling us that they were “proud that the firm didn’t back down when certain forces tried to suppress those efforts.”