What’s in a Biglaw name? Quite a bit, it turns out, especially if it’s attached to Quinn Emanuel. This prestigious law firm not only tackles intense legal battles but also takes its team building to the extreme with mandatory hiking trips. These aren't leisurely strolls but rigors that include backpacking through some of the world's most challenging and beautiful terrains.

“It’s intense,” admits Tigran Guledjian, a partner at Quinn Emanuel. For over two decades, he’s participated in and now helps organize these hikes. “You carry your own backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and food. You are responsible for yourself, and there’s nobody out there who will do anything for you, other than your colleagues.”

The firm's hiking tradition traces back to 1993 when founder John B. Quinn led 15 legal analysts through Utah’s Coyote Gulch. The initiative has since morphed into an impressive international affair. By 2008, the firm expanded their hiking horizons globally, conquering trails like Switzerland’s Faulhornweg, Japan’s Mount Fuji, and Greece’s Mount Olympus.

While some might view these excursions as a drastic measure to avoid work emails, they serve a greater purpose. These trips foster a unique camaraderie among participants, offering a chance to forge deeper connections with colleagues outside the confines of office walls. And it's not without its risks; past hikes have seen associates veering off paths requiring rescue operations, with the firm even cautioning to read the waiver thoroughly before signing up.

Firm-sponsored hikes also ensure memorable experiences, albeit with potential wildlife encounters that are more likely to be with bears than quirky co-workers. Indeed, hiking up a mountain with colleagues is an event that couldn't possibly be replaced by a simple email or virtual meeting.

The most recent trip had hundreds of Quinn Emanuel’s staff hiking the Andes Mountains in Peru, a testament to the firm's commitment to this unusual but impactful team-building exercise. Participants often return with not just photos but stories of endurance and personal achievement, alongside a refreshed, if not slightly exhausted, perspective on their work and colleagues.

For those in the firm, these hikes are a bold underline on the importance of resilience and teamwork, qualities as vital on the mountain trails as they are in the courtroom. And for anyone thinking of joining Quinn Emanuel, a word of advice: start breaking in those hiking boots.