Possible: Puzzling James Sprayregen Development at Paul, Weiss

 When I coached former Kirkland & Ellis employees a constant meme was the reverence for partner James Sprayregen. He had built the firm's powerhouse bankruptcy practice, including advising clients ranging from Toys R Us to Caesars Entertainment. One snippet was that when he walked into the country club for dinner a hush settled over the room.

That was then. In 2024 he retired from K&E. Then, as FT reports:

"Sprayregen joined Hilco Global, a bankruptcy adviser and distressed investor, as vice-chair charged with expanding its reach into new markets and areas as well as raising new capital. Last year, Hilco announced a minority investment from the US arm of Japanese financial services group Orix."

In addition, FT also reports this today: Paul, Weiss, an intense competitor with K&E, plans to hire Sprayregen. However, that's still in the negotiation phase. On the Paul, Weiss website he is not yet listed as a partner. 

If this actually happens, it seems somewhat puzzling. A comment on Reddit puts it this way:

" ... it’s an odd move. He’s a legend in the space but the next gen has moved in and it’s not like pw lacks contacts or expertise."

Also, as the current photo splash indicates, the guy is up in years. Born in 1960, he is 66 years old. Sure, he probably will bring in business and develop more business. But there are new stars in that niche. 

What unique value will this hire deliver to Paul, Weiss? And, is this a strategic move Paul, Weiss should take as it is under close scrutiny? There has been more than the average share of controversy for a law firm. That ranges from the deal cut with the Trump administration to lift the Executive Order to the termination of litigation associates. 

Shouldn't Paul, Weiss be recruiting the kinds of stars who can help move the needle on a brand reset? It had been its celebrity lawyer Brad Karp who back in 2021 articulated in Bloomberg Law the critical need to dazzle with star power. Is Sprayregen the right kind of star for the current time?

In coaching, I encourage those who might have aged out of a category to develop a fresh start in another. Twelve years ago I had aged out of the New York Metro media scene. Relocating to Tucson, Arizona, I created a new west-coast identity. Five years ago, I exited what had become a glutted sector and regrouped in two other categories.

UPDATE:

June 24, 8:30 AM, James Sprayregen still not listed on Paul, Weiss website.

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