Ex-lawyers in senior IB positions?

I noticed that a lot of senior MDs/heads are having a prior background as lawyers. Curious to know why is that?

See some examples below:

- Lloyd Blankfein, ex-CEO, Goldman - ex-Prokauser

- James Gorman, ex-CEO, Morgan Stanley - ex-lawyer (Australia)

- Brian Moynihan, CEO BofA 

- Bruce Wasserstein (RIP), ex-CEO Lazard - ex-Cravath

- Andrew Bednar, CEO/President Perella - ex-Cravath

- Kevin Costantino, Co-CEO/President Greenhill - ex-Wachtell

- Jim Millstein, Co-chairman Guggenheim - ex-Cleary Gottlieb

3 Comments
 

Probably deal and execution experience. At the senior level, it's less about the numbers or analysis, and more about negotiation, process, deal strategy - all attributes that corporate lawyers are very good at, probably better than most other bankers

 

I'm at an EB and a handful of our MDs are ex-lawyers. I'd guess it probably has to do with deal management & execution experience? Not sure, but at the senior level that becomes vastly important

 

Quibusdam distinctio molestias nulla voluptas. Quae natus magni culpa voluptates non ut aliquam reiciendis. Corrupti deleniti non voluptas saepe incidunt. Nihil vel exercitationem harum impedit modi quidem voluptatem. Voluptates omnis repellat nemo harum esse ipsam cupiditate libero. Fugit modi provident perferendis at. Ut corrupti sit corporis nisi accusantium velit quia.

Nobis perspiciatis molestiae facere. Quisquam sit nam placeat doloremque. Explicabo omnis et sit quas sint voluptatem ut. In sed animi labore asperiores. Nihil enim nesciunt et eius non voluptatem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”