Do I Really Need to Donate to a Client’s Charity?
November 12, 2008 by Sweet Hot Counsel
Q: I’m a junior associate and the I’ve been last-minute invited to a huge fundraising dinner event for the pet charity of one of the firm’s biggest clients. I was only invited because the billing partner needed bodies to fill the table (I did a ton of work for this client last year but have never met them). I said I’d go but one of the other juniors going just told me that in situations like this, the lawyers are expected to make a donation to the stupid charity to “show their support” for the client. That can’t be serious, right? And even if it is, they mean the partners, not a third-year like me, right? I can barely make my rent and loan payments and I kind of figure that the 1000 or so hours I billed last year for the client was my “donation.” Right? I just don’t want to be embarrassed, though. Advice?
A: Ahhh, client fundraiser protocol—always a tricky one, that. I know it may seem absurd, but it actually is pretty standard for big-shot partners at big-shot firms to make personal donations to big-shot clients in situations like this (in addition to whatever crazy amount the firm is shelling out for the sponsored table). It’s all part of the business development dance—especially when a huge client has multiple big firms working for them on various matters. The firms—and the relationship partners, really—need to make a big show of how committed the firm is to the client so that daddy likes them best and continues to throw the biggest deals/cases their way.
That all said, you’re not expected to join in this game. At least not yet. The partners understand that you were invited as a warm body more than anything and aren’t expecting you to open your wallet. Or your mouth, for that matter. Chances are, you won’t even meet the client—you might get a quick, broad intro and handshake at best—and it’s a safe bet no one will notice your presence either way. You role here is to show up, look nice, fill a chair, smile, and above all, make sure not to get drunk and spill anything on yourself or anyone sitting next to you.
So, bring a few bucks for the valet, but other than that, your wallet should be safe all night. (And who knows, you may even have a good time.)
Need advice? Email our Sweet Hot Counsel at counsel@sweethotjustice.com.
Watch out! And be careful; if you do go, you don’t want to piss off the managing partner, who is trying to curry favor with the charity; particularly if he wants to be on the board of the charity — a big thing for the older farts who want to say they are “giving back”. They do so by “volunteering” schlubs like us who are “public spirited” enough to warm the chairs with our time on other weekend events. I wound up being “volunteered” for 3 consecutuve Saturdays of painting at some old age home reconstruction. And I still had to bill the same 50 hours those weeks. The only saving grace was that I hooked up at the painting party with a great college cousin of the managing partner. Great sex, but I hope she keeps her mouth shut. I’d rather bone her at her place without all the extra charity.
Good point about the board seat thing for older partners – the younger ones need to curry favor with the client for business and the older ones just want a board seat. One partner at my firm (who’s not even that old) is maybe in the office 4 days a month. The rest of the time he’s serving on boards and collecting client fees for being the “relationship” partner. Nice job if you can get it.