Kirkland Chicago
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Kirkland Chicago
UPDATE: I am also strongly considering Cravath and I am indifferent about whether I live in Chicago or NYC. How do Kirkland and Cravath stack up against each other.
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
I'll second this. Currently an associate in this office, so I can answer any specific questions you might have. The corporate group has been very busy this past year. In Chicago there's maybe 2-3 firms where you'll get access to similar opportunities.Bach-City wrote: Generally speaking though, KE is considered to be the top of the Chicago market. There are absolutely reasons to go to other firms in Chicago, but all things equal Kirkland is the best firm in town, especially for corporate.
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
To clarify: past threads were made when the corporate practice was strong, but it seems over the past few years it's gained even more recognition and is top of the line. Am I wrong?Bach-City wrote:Not sure where past threads would have gotten the idea that KE's corporate practice is weak. Kirkland Chicago is great for mid market private equity and has a strong corporate practice generally. Skadden and Sidley(?) do a lot more public M&A.
Generally speaking though, KE is considered to be the top of the Chicago market. There are absolutely reasons to go to other firms in Chicago, but all things equal Kirkland is the best firm in town, especially for corporate.
EDIT: Not to say that Skadden and Sidley aren't comparable. But KE is generally considered the best.
I'd also really appreciate it if someone could tell me more about the culture. (Likes? Dislikes?) If you prefer to talk via PM that's fine too. Thanks.
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
Is there a particular type of work that's been predominant in the corporate group or is it just generally busy? I heard it has been a relatively slow year for M&A in the big NYC firms. May I assume it has been the same at Kirkland?Anonymous User wrote:I'll second this. Currently an associate in this office, so I can answer any specific questions you might have. The corporate group has been very busy this past year. In Chicago there's maybe 2-3 firms where you'll get access to similar opportunities.Bach-City wrote: Generally speaking though, KE is considered to be the top of the Chicago market. There are absolutely reasons to go to other firms in Chicago, but all things equal Kirkland is the best firm in town, especially for corporate.
Pure curiosity: which other 2-3 firms in Chicago would provide similar opportunities?
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
I am a different associate than the other anon. I have found the culture to be a bit better than Kirkland's reputation generally - or at the least as advertised. There shouldn't be many surprises. Kirkland is proud of its culture and doesn't hide the ball.Mab wrote:To clarify: past threads were made when the corporate practice was strong, but it seems over the past few years it's gained even more recognition and is top of the line. Am I wrong?Bach-City wrote:Not sure where past threads would have gotten the idea that KE's corporate practice is weak. Kirkland Chicago is great for mid market private equity and has a strong corporate practice generally. Skadden and Sidley(?) do a lot more public M&A.
Generally speaking though, KE is considered to be the top of the Chicago market. There are absolutely reasons to go to other firms in Chicago, but all things equal Kirkland is the best firm in town, especially for corporate.
EDIT: Not to say that Skadden and Sidley aren't comparable. But KE is generally considered the best.
I'd also really appreciate it if someone could tell me more about the culture. (Likes? Dislikes?) If you prefer to talk via PM that's fine too. Thanks.
There are of course some really awful people to work with but equal amounts of really great people. Corporate and M&A especially is insanely busy right now. I've been asked to be on like ten separate deals in the last week or two.
You will work a lot and after the first or second year expectations around hours really ramp up. It's obviously a great place to start your career but sustainability is certainly an issue and the common issues with biglaw are still present. Being in Chicago is WAY better than being in NYC though.
I would suggest a fair bit of soul searching before anyone picks Kirkland. It is really great firm but it's not for everyone. God bless the people who can hack it long term because the payoffs are significant. But as someone who doesnt love the firm, it's not an easy place to work.
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
Just generally busy. Some of my colleagues have been staffed on a number of private carve-outs but others have had tons of variety. I'm a junior associate so I can't really comment as to how "relatively slow" this year has been compared to other years, but most of my peers have been very busy so far. I think the general market trends don't apply to firms with strong PE practices (like KE or Simpson) but again I don't know if this is universally true. I think Chicago's top tier corporate practices (other than KE) would be Sidley/Skadden/Latham.Mab wrote:Is there a particular type of work that's been predominant in the corporate group or is it just generally busy? I heard it has been a relatively slow year for M&A in the big NYC firms. May I assume it has been the same at Kirkland?Anonymous User wrote:I'll second this. Currently an associate in this office, so I can answer any specific questions you might have. The corporate group has been very busy this past year. In Chicago there's maybe 2-3 firms where you'll get access to similar opportunities.Bach-City wrote: Generally speaking though, KE is considered to be the top of the Chicago market. There are absolutely reasons to go to other firms in Chicago, but all things equal Kirkland is the best firm in town, especially for corporate.
Pure curiosity: which other 2-3 firms in Chicago would provide similar opportunities?
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
I would only go to one of Kirkland, Sidley or Latham if I were pursuing corporate work in Chicago. As a law student you really don't have enough information to even know what you should be evaluating in terms of where to practice, so you should be targeting somewhere with a number of different opportunities to find your fit. For example, Goldberg Kohn is a great place for middle market lender-side leveraged finance, but who the hell knows if that's what you'll like or be good at.Anonymous User wrote:Just generally busy. Some of my colleagues have been staffed on a number of private carve-outs but others have had tons of variety. I'm a junior associate so I can't really comment as to how "relatively slow" this year has been compared to other years, but most of my peers have been very busy so far. I think the general market trends don't apply to firms with strong PE practices (like KE or Simpson) but again I don't know if this is universally true. I think Chicago's top tier corporate practices (other than KE) would be Sidley/Skadden/Latham.Mab wrote:Is there a particular type of work that's been predominant in the corporate group or is it just generally busy? I heard it has been a relatively slow year for M&A in the big NYC firms. May I assume it has been the same at Kirkland?Anonymous User wrote:I'll second this. Currently an associate in this office, so I can answer any specific questions you might have. The corporate group has been very busy this past year. In Chicago there's maybe 2-3 firms where you'll get access to similar opportunities.Bach-City wrote: Generally speaking though, KE is considered to be the top of the Chicago market. There are absolutely reasons to go to other firms in Chicago, but all things equal Kirkland is the best firm in town, especially for corporate.
Pure curiosity: which other 2-3 firms in Chicago would provide similar opportunities?
Kirkland specifically is top class in all ranges of PE work, from middle market stuff to the PE mega deals. Public m&a is definitely still a growing practice. Top shop in Chicago for issuer/borrower side leveraged finance/144A and public offering work, but more specialized on that side than some of the other firms on this list (e.g. Sidley where debt work is more holistic).
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
Thanks very much for all your useful responses so far.
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
I'd say very few people would have the experience required to answer this question properly. Both firms are demanding in terms of billable hours. Both firms are prestigious and have access to interesting and complex work. I think it comes down to where you want to live. Chicago and NYC are radically different, both in terms of culture and cost-of-living. Spend some time thinking about where you'd like to spend the next 4-6 years, it's an important consideration and shouldn't be cast aside lightly.Mab wrote:I am also strongly considering Cravath and I am indifferent about whether I live in Chicago or NYC. How do Kirkland and Cravath stack up against each other. (Updating original post with this info as well.)
Thanks very much for all your useful responses so far.
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
Just to clarify, base pay at Kirkland is still lock-step, but bonuses are individualized and generally are higher than Cravath's bonuses. So Kirkland can potentially offer higher compensation at a lower cost-of-living.Anonymous User wrote:Also should be noted that Cravath is the archetypal lock-step firm with an assignment system whereas Kirkland is free market and not lockstep (at all). This can create big differences in culture.
Sources: http://abovethelaw.com/2015/12/associat ... ival-firm/
http://abovethelaw.com/2016/12/update-b ... onus-news/
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
i think the poster was talking about lockstep partnership compensation, as opposed the eat what you kill style of kirkland. the selling point of lockstep is it makes the environment less competitive and more focused on client service, as opposed to partners generating business for themselves.Anonymous User wrote:Just to clarify, base pay at Kirkland is still lock-step, but bonuses are individualized and generally are higher than Cravath's bonuses. So Kirkland can potentially offer higher compensation at a lower cost-of-living.Anonymous User wrote:Also should be noted that Cravath is the archetypal lock-step firm with an assignment system whereas Kirkland is free market and not lockstep (at all). This can create big differences in culture.
Sources: http://abovethelaw.com/2015/12/associat ... ival-firm/
http://abovethelaw.com/2016/12/update-b ... onus-news/
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
It definitely can make a difference in firm-wide morale, at least at some places. I think the general idea is that non-lockstep firms harbor "greedier" partners and that "greedier" partners tend to be less pleasant partners.skers wrote:Lol at making a decision re what firm to go to based on partner comp though.
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
skers wrote:Lol at making a decision re what firm to go to based on partner comp though.
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
I forgot that Cravath is known for its chill, sociable lock-step satiated partners.stickershocked wrote:It definitely can make a difference in firm-wide morale, at least at some places. I think the general idea is that non-lockstep firms harbor "greedier" partners and that "greedier" partners tend to be less pleasant partners.skers wrote:Lol at making a decision re what firm to go to based on partner comp though.
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
I'll never understand how someone can possibly be "indifferent" about the city you are going to spend 3+ years (and possibly much longer).Mab wrote:I am also strongly considering Cravath and I am indifferent about whether I live in Chicago or NYC. How do Kirkland and Cravath stack up against each other. (Updating original post with this info as well.)
Thanks very much for all your useful responses so far.
The differences between Chicago and New York will, IMO, be more significant than the differences between the associate experience at cravath and Kirkland.
(Sorry, grammar/spelling/etc shitty- on (cracked) iPhone).
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
The main selling points for me were (1) more compensation in a lower COL city, (2) didn't like the rotation program at Cravath, and (3) the work is the same quality
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
You're either at my firm or same thing here...Anonymous User wrote:I would do some more research about Skadden corporate. It seems like the group is not doing well. We've hired like three to four laterals from there in the past few months. I've heard of other associates going elsewhere too.
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Re: Kirkland Chicago
Sounds like you have no regrets.Anonymous User wrote:I made this decision a couple of years ago and chose Kirkland. I talked to an associate who lateraled from Cravath to Kirkland and he pretty much sold me on the decision. Ask recruiting if you can talk to someone who has worked at both firms.
The main selling points for me were (1) more compensation in a lower COL city, (2) didn't like the rotation program at Cravath, and (3) the work is the same quality
Have you liked the free market system at Kirkland?
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