Fastest you know someone has made partner at a V100 firm Forum

[Anonymous User]

This discounts anyone who has a family member in the firm. How long did it take them? What made him or her so special? Would love to hear any stories

[jd20132013]

Why

[1styearlateral]

This is a dumb question. Aren't most firms in the V100 lockstep? I can't imagine any firm promoting an associate with less than 7-8 years of experience to partner, unless the candidate had a ridiculous amount of business. And even then, it seems improbable.

[boushi]

I know of someone who made partner at the beginning of his 5th year at a V10. He didn't even have much business origination; he was just an incredible associate who could already fill the shoes of a service partner. And so they let him. (He was billing almost 3000 hours a year during those 4 pre-partner years so he was arguably approaching senior associate-level experience in terms of hours worked, for what it's worth.)

[AppraisalWaisal]

Abovethelaw had a random article about a girl at Skadden who made partner at age 30. She somehow was able to start at the firm as a 3rd year associate.

[jd20132013]

I know of someone who made partner at the beginning of his 5th year at a V10. He didn't even have much business origination; he was just an incredible associate who could already fill the shoes of a service partner. And so they let him. (He was billing almost 3000 hours a year during those 4 pre-partner years so he was arguably approaching senior associate-level experience in terms of hours worked, for what it's worth.)

what a loser

[Anonymous User]

I think KE makes non-share partners after like 5.5 years, and back in the day some of the more boutique-type firms used to make people partner after 5 years or so (I think MTO did this, not sure if they do anymore).

[AndroidLawyer]

Abovethelaw had a random article about a girl at Skadden who made partner at age 30. She somehow was able to start at the firm as a 3rd year associate.

I read that on chambers associate. I think she finished law school at 22, then did a clerkship, then got a NYU tax LLM. So Skadden started as a 3rd year afterwards.

[nealric]

I think KE makes non-share partners after like 5.5 years, and back in the day some of the more boutique-type firms used to make people partner after 5 years or so (I think MTO did this, not sure if they do anymore).

KE just figured out calling senior associates partners was a free way to generate some business and make clients think they are getting better service. They can also advertise a super short partnership track to associate recruits. Not sure why other firms haven't caught on.

I know a few people from law school who got true equity partnership right at the 8-year mark. That's about as good as it gets outside of a few extraordinary situations or smaller boutiques.

[Anonymous User]

Kirkland also pays their non-share partners substantially more than an equivalent associate. In fact, many associates don't make NSP. It is not automatic. They just continue to be associates until they can make the cut.

[Anonymous User]

I think KE makes non-share partners after like 5.5 years, and back in the day some of the more boutique-type firms used to make people partner after 5 years or so (I think MTO did this, not sure if they do anymore).

KE just figured out calling senior associates partners was a free way to generate some business and make clients think they are getting better service. They can also advertise a super short partnership track to associate recruits. Not sure why other firms haven't caught on.

I know a few people from law school who got true equity partnership right at the 8-year mark. That's about as good as it gets outside of a few extraordinary situations or smaller boutiques.

MTO's recently elected partners 6-7 years after their law school graduation.

[oblig.lawl.ref]

Kirkland also pays their non-share partners substantially more than an equivalent associate. In fact, many associates don't make NSP. It is not automatic. They just continue to be associates until they can make the cut.

Fair enough but they still make a ton of NSPs at like the 6 year mark. Never really knew how the comp worked out. Is that because they continue to pay market shattering bonuses or is the base comp appreciably higher? Is the base comp no longer lock step after making NSP?

I've only known of a few people that stuck it out at KE to NSP and they all left the firm shortly thereafter, so in a lot of ways it always looked to me like your typical up and out senior associate path.

[unlicensedpotato]

I think KE makes non-share partners after like 5.5 years, and back in the day some of the more boutique-type firms used to make people partner after 5 years or so (I think MTO did this, not sure if they do anymore).

KE just figured out calling senior associates partners was a free way to generate some business and make clients think they are getting better service. They can also advertise a super short partnership track to associate recruits. Not sure why other firms haven't caught on.

I know a few people from law school who got true equity partnership right at the 8-year mark. That's about as good as it gets outside of a few extraordinary situations or smaller boutiques.

It may fool some clients but probably shouldn't. And being across from them it's a little silly watching the 7th year "partner" throw a temper tantrum when they're out over their skis and trying to alter the business deal or verbal agreements of other attorneys. Point being, no one (other than *maybe* the client) views an NSP as a partner.

[mrs.miawallace]

above sounds bitter. what's all the hate lol

[minnbills]

I know a few kirkland NSPs who moved to other firms as equity partners. It works for Kirkland because they're so hot right now in certain practice groups. If you've ever read Liar's Poker, it's like the Solomon Brothers effect. Everyone wanted to poach Solomon bond traders to get some of the magic.