Kirkland & Ellis: Most Powerful Law Firm in World Reported to Be Bending to Trump Administration Power

 Heading off an Executive Order through, for example, negotiating a certain amount of pro-bono work - that's becoming a standard peace offering in the Trump administration's escalating war on law firms. The Wall Street Journal refers to it as "as low-cost." That's even though it cost Skadden, Willkie and Milbank each a $100 million. Paul Weiss, after it was hit with an actual EO, lucked out with a discount - only $40 million. Could the chair Brad Karp's signature charm have factored in?

Well, the largest, most powerful and most financially successful law firm in the world - Kirkland & Ellis - is reported to be in the midst of packaging its own peace offering to the administration. The firm has 4,000 lawyers. It also has been hit with an EEOC investigation.

The threat of an EO may be surprising. If you check the political donations by law firms which Open Secrets documents you'll find that Kirkland & Ellis contributes heavily both to the Dems and the GOP.  Paul Weiss didn't. The lion's share went to the Dems. In addition in the first Trump administration several of Kirkand & Ellis' partners had big jobs. It wasn't just the gang from Jones Day who helped run that bombastic show.

However, it should be no surprise that Kirkland & Ellis is doing what many pragmatists see as the "smart" course of action. When I had coached Kirkland & Ellis people they may have resentments about the law firm. But all agreed it always won and that was because it was so smart.

Since it's so wealthy one wonders what the version of "low-cost" will be imposed on this law firm.

Meanwhile, knowing the culture of Kirkland & Ellis as I do I don't anticipate much public resistance from within. You don't do that sort of thing at that law firm. But, hey, times change. Will there emerge a Kirkland & Ellis version of Skadden's Rachel Cohen?

Need help sorting out how to make a living? Complimentary consultation with intuitive coach Jane Genova (text 203-468-8579, email janegenova374@gmail.com).

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kirkland & Ellis Reported to Be Building Moat Around Firm to Deter Poaching of Stars

  "Kirkland gives partners more than half their pay after the end of the year in which they earn it. For partners who depart to other firms, the new policy gives the firm discretion to withhold that pay, according to a person familiar with the change."   Bloomberg Law , July 18, 2024 Scrapper Kirkland & Ellis is no slouch when it comes to protecting its business - known as the most successful law firm in the world.  Paul Weiss  certainly got in the way by launching not one but two high-profile raids on its London office stars. Gone were brandnames ranging from Neel Sachdev to Roger Johnson. In addition, Latham poached Matthew Cohn. If there is such a policy, as reported, then Kirkland & Ellis has created what could be an effective deterrent for both partners' leaving and potential poachers' approaching the star lawyers. And it all comes downs to money - big money: That is, both what partners would leave behind which they have already earned and how much ...
Read more

Poaching in Law Firm Sector Potentially Catastrophic When Clients Exit with Partners

" ...  when clients refuse to follow partners out of the firm ..." - Brad Karp, chair of Paul, Weiss, cites how that can mitigate the risks, ranging from branding to business development, associated with the massive poaching of law-firm stars. This observation by Karp is extracted from the panel's comments at the International Bar Association, May 15, 2024 and published in Law.com .  The panel of leaders focused on internal law-firm strategies to reduce partner flight. Essentially their consensus was this solution: creating a partner culture of belonging, purpose and equality. About the latter, too many junior partners have an identity of being very senior associates.  However, come on, stars come and stars go. Soon enough law firms with war chests/powerhouse brandnames have the financial resources and the prestige to replace them. And the business goes on. Kirkland & Ellis is still doing well after James Sprayregen left for financial services holding firm Hilco Glob...
Read more

Akin Gump Julia Ghahramani's March 2021 Cocaine+ Death - So?

   It had been way back more than a year ago that first-year associate at law firm Akin Gump Julia Ghahramani died from cocaine laced with fentanyl. Yet that story keeps resurfacing.  This week  RollonFriday  revisits it. And  Reddit Big Law  considers the issue if the energy from cocaine is what's making possible those 2,500 hours billed in law firms.  Is what's keeping this on the radar the hunch that use of the illegal substance cocaine is common among those practicing law? After all, in addition to being an energy-booster, it provides a nice reward for such hard-working lawyers. Also, they have the earnings to afford it. Most of the rest of gunners have to stick with boozing. So, why not?  The reality might be setting in that the death could simply have been an aberration. Think about it this way: Ghahramani had bad luck in her alleged choice of dealers. Others might be able to exert more scrutiny in overseeing the content of the il...
Read more