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I'm an ex-NDA'ite and a beneficiary of Nishithbhai's mentorship. You do realise that he has every prerogative to keep his practice a sole proprietary concern. Those of us who wished to have our own equity have chosen other paths. That is just individual autonomy.
The one thing you cannot take away from NMD is the fact that he has made entrepreneurs out of so many of us. He may not share equity, but he shared the core skills and allowed us to hone them. That is not "exploitation". That is true guru-shishya parampara aka mentorship.
XOXO
An institution which employs lawyers and never provide equity, is antithetical to the idea of entrepreneurship in lawyers. Unless your idea of entrepreneurship is building someone else’s business.
NDA is a brand - where? In whose mind and in which universe? If there was a legal limit on being delusional, you would be guilty of violating it.
If you want money then work somewhere else? Like WTF? If I want to be an academician, wouldn’t I just join academia. What kind of chamber lawyer exploitation mentality is this? Is it not plain market economics to be paid for your labour?
Oh my god I can write for hours but I need to go make some money.
The team shares a unique camaraderie, and the selfless mentorship provided by NDA is quite rare to find. That helps, and helps tremendously in unleashing your true potential + client facing opportunities for which you might have to wait for long years in other firms.
Having said that, it would be unwise to join NDA solely for financial gain. If money is your primary motivation, other firms might be a better fit. Each one to his own.
Lastly, there is no need to worry about the firm’s stability and revenues. It’s making good money - better than outsiders can imagine. It has a brand, and if you are smart, you can become a brand too. The firm supports this. If you just want to execute, get paid and go home - not the right place for you. If you are entrepreneurial, then this is the right place to hone your skills.
Btw, those who have left NDA, especially senior leadership folks, seldom speak negatively of the firm and thank the firm for shaping them. You won’t hear that of other firms. So there might be merit in joining, but only if your goals are beyond money.
Just wanted to clear the air! Decide intelligently.
Best of luck!
Breakout, sure. Practice areas? Lol.