Susman Godfrey, the litigation firm that strives to stand out from the Big Law pack when it comes to pay and benefits, just expanded the definition of its unlimited paid vacation policy to include the newfangled concept of “pawternity” leave.

Neal Manne, a managing partner of the Houston-based firm, said that as soon as he read a commentary about the pawternity leave trend in Texas Lawyer on Monday, it was clear to him that the firm already provides that benefit under the firm's unlimited vacation policy for associates.

“We have an unlimited paid vacation leave—as much as anybody wants. It's a vacation policy; It's a pawternity policy; it's an I-want-to-go-to-the-beach policy,” Manne said.

Neal Manne.

Susman Godfrey, with about 139 lawyers in offices in Houston, Seattle, Los Angeles and New York, has a long tradition of providing top-of-market benefits for its associates. Most recently, the firm adopted a policy providing all associates with unlimited paid parental leave in addition to the unlimited vacation policy. The firm also this year topped the Cravath, Swaine & Moore pay scale for associates with a starting pay of $195,000. And because the point was raised at a partner retreat not long ago that the firm had no mandatory retirement policy, the partners decided to set one: the mandatory retirement age at Susman Godfrey is now 100.

Manne said the firm wants to be “ahead of the class” in all ways, including benefits offered to its associates, who are required to have completed a federal clerkship before starting work at the firm.

“Really our more recent policy is to have unlimited vacation, unlimited paid parental leave. That just wasn't being ahead of the class, it was showing [our associates] we consider them to be professionals and we have confidence in them to act responsibly and to feel very vested in our firm, where eventually they will become partners,” he said.

He explained that associates would not have to seek special approval for a pawternity leave to take care of a sick animal, to train a new puppy or adopt one. The associates would just need to make sure, as they would in all situations when they go on leave, that the people they are working with know about their time off and any client needs.

“We are completely indifferent to whether they are going to take time to hang out on a beach or stay home and take care of a puppy,” he said.

Manne said he knows associates appreciate the firm's generous benefits package, but he doubts that any young lawyer finishing a federal clerkship is going to pick Susman Godfrey just because of a few extra vacation days. Those associates, he said, are instead likely to appreciate the firm's willingness to “break the paradigm” and come up with new approaches to benefits.

On the other hand, Manne doubts clients pay much attention to what benefits the firm provides its associates.

“Clients hiring Susman Godfrey are focused on the fact that we win cases for them,” he said.

Stephen Susman's Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Stella and puppy Gus.

Manne said even founding partner Stephen Susman endorses the expansive benefits application to include the so-called pawternity leave. On Monday, Manne said, Susman sent an email to the firm's partners remarking that pawternity leave is a firm benefit he needs to take advantage of,  since he has a new puppy.

Susman could not be reached for immediate comment. Manne said he is on a “grandpawternity leave” to train his two-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Gus. Susman also has another dog of the same breed named Stella.

“He's taking time off to help Stella with the new puppy,” Manne said.

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