Is it true that Kirkland's Chicago RX group only has ONE female SP? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Someone in another thread pointed this out. If this is incorrect, how many female SPs are in Chicago's RX group?

I'm a female that will be joining their RX practice in Chicago. Kind of concerned.

Edit: changed name of thread

[Anonymous User]

It's common knowledge that Kirkland RX, especially in Chicago, is a boys club. Make sure you ask around for stories before you join.

[noice]

It's common knowledge that Kirkland RX, especially in Chicago, is a boys club. Make sure you ask around for stories before you join.

what is RX

[Anonymous User]

It's common knowledge that Kirkland RX, especially in Chicago, is a boys club. Make sure you ask around for stories before you join.

what is RX

Restructuring

[Anonymous User]

I heard another one was promoted this last round. Probably hasn't updated to P.C. on the website yet.

ETA: She's NY not Chicago

[Anonymous User]

Bump

[Anonymous User]

It's common knowledge that Kirkland RX, especially in Chicago, is a boys club. Make sure you ask around for stories before you join.

Can someone expand on this?

[Anonymous User]

It's common knowledge that Kirkland RX, especially in Chicago, is a boys club. Make sure you ask around for stories before you join.

Can someone expand on this?

Most corporate practice groups (that I’m aware of) have few female equity partners. Men likely outnumber them 8:1 in the ones I’ve seen. I have no knowledge of Kirkland bankruptcy is better or worse than others, but it’s pretty clear way fewer women make equity partners. This is probably true for a variety of reasons of which, sexism is one.

[Anonymous User]

Doesn't make a lot of sense to just consider the Chicago BK group in isolation, that group really is Chicago+Ny and, frankly, Chicago BK is way less important than NY BK at this point and the practice is basically run out of NY outside of COVID times with how much the Chicago people travel. Between Chicago and NY three women made SP in restructuring this year, so it's improving.

[Anonymous User]

Doesn't make a lot of sense to just consider the Chicago BK group in isolation, that group really is Chicago+Ny and, frankly, Chicago BK is way less important than NY BK at this point and the practice is basically run out of NY outside of COVID times with how much the Chicago people travel. Between Chicago and NY three women made SP in restructuring this year, so it's improving.

Isn't Kirkland's RX group in Chicago pretty big? I know women SPs are scarce in any practice group but 1 in Chicago seems pretty low. Also can you expand on the travel? Is there a lot of traveling in RX?

[Anonymous User]

Doesn't make a lot of sense to just consider the Chicago BK group in isolation, that group really is Chicago+Ny and, frankly, Chicago BK is way less important than NY BK at this point and the practice is basically run out of NY outside of COVID times with how much the Chicago people travel. Between Chicago and NY three women made SP in restructuring this year, so it's improving.

Isn't Kirkland's RX group in Chicago pretty big? I know women SPs are scarce in any practice group but 1 in Chicago seems pretty low. Also can you expand on the travel? Is there a lot of traveling in RX?

The Chicago RX group is pretty big, but it's just not where the center of the group is any more in terms of the people at the very top of the group.

Chicago people travel constantly outside of COVID times because BK is a very in-person-meeting/negotiation-heavy group, and the overwhelming majority of that discussion happens in NY (because that is where all the FAs are, all of the non-KE BK lawyers are, most of the financial principals are, etc). And when things aren't happening in NY they're normally happening in Delaware, Virginia, or TX.
A bit easier to get to TX from Chicago, but that's the only advantage. Basically no meaningful bankruptcies get filed in Illinois anymore. Occasionally some in-person meetings will happen in Chicago when the business itself/management is more convenient to Chicago than NY, but it's comparatively rare.

Of course, who knows what will happen post-COVID. Unclear how much will remain remote in terms of court hearings. The entire field absolutely believes that remote negotiation/mediation just doesn't get things done as quickly or effectively so it does seem like that will end up coming back to being much more in person. So, as a Chicago BK person, you should definitely be prepared for the fact that you're likely to travel a lot.

[Anonymous User]

It's common knowledge that Kirkland RX, especially in Chicago, is a boys club. Make sure you ask around for stories before you join.

Can someone expand on this?

Yeah, let's hear more stories involving the boys and the lonely female RX partner

[Anonymous User]

A friend of mine that lateraled from the Chicago RX group likened it to a Mad Men environment. That’s a bit of a cliche, but she described a pretty intensely fratty heavy drinking culture.

[Anonymous User]

Doesn't make a lot of sense to just consider the Chicago BK group in isolation, that group really is Chicago+Ny and, frankly, Chicago BK is way less important than NY BK at this point and the practice is basically run out of NY outside of COVID times with how much the Chicago people travel. Between Chicago and NY three women made SP in restructuring this year, so it's improving.

Isn't Kirkland's RX group in Chicago pretty big? I know women SPs are scarce in any practice group but 1 in Chicago seems pretty low. Also can you expand on the travel? Is there a lot of traveling in RX?

The Chicago RX group is pretty big, but it's just not where the center of the group is any more in terms of the people at the very top of the group.

Chicago people travel constantly outside of COVID times because BK is a very in-person-meeting/negotiation-heavy group, and the overwhelming majority of that discussion happens in NY (because that is where all the FAs are, all of the non-KE BK lawyers are, most of the financial principals are, etc). And when things aren't happening in NY they're normally happening in Delaware, Virginia, or TX.
A bit easier to get to TX from Chicago, but that's the only advantage. Basically no meaningful bankruptcies get filed in Illinois anymore. Occasionally some in-person meetings will happen in Chicago when the business itself/management is more convenient to Chicago than NY, but it's comparatively rare.

Of course, who knows what will happen post-COVID. Unclear how much will remain remote in terms of court hearings. The entire field absolutely believes that remote negotiation/mediation just doesn't get things done as quickly or effectively so it does seem like that will end up coming back to being much more in person. So, as a Chicago BK person, you should definitely be prepared for the fact that you're likely to travel a lot.

I swear. I've networked with at least 8 BK associates from Kirkland RX and NO ONE has mentioned this. Can you tell me what kind of things BK associates would be expected to do while traveling? I guess I'm asking about why it's necessary for them to have to travel. Aren't they juniors doing mostly paperwork? I was told about having to go to TX for BK court. So I'm assuming juniors go to DE for the same reason? Are they actually going in front of a judge? How often? So sorry for the questions but this is so useful.

If there's a way we can talk outside of here I would so appreciate that. Even anonymously. If it's too much of a hassle right now keeping it to tls is good too. Thanks so much.

[Anonymous User]

This is not surprising at all. Women are underrepresented at the partner level in all corporate disciplines, but we are disproportionately underrepresented in certain specific corporate disciplines, most notably bankruptcy and finance. I’m a female associate in finance and we can’t get other female associates to join our group for various reasons, so I don’t really see this problem getting any better, at least at my firm. Tough to make more female partners if you don’t have any female associates.

[LBJ's Hair]

"seems high" - every bankruptcy lawyer

[Anonymous User]

Someone in another thread pointed this out. If this is incorrect, how many female SPs are in Chicago's RX group?

I'm a female that will be joining their RX practice in Chicago. Kind of concerned.

Edit: changed name of thread

I admire that you are already gunning for SP as a 0L - if I had that kind of tenacity I wouldn't be stuck at my deadend KE job.

[The Lsat Airbender]

Someone in another thread pointed this out. If this is incorrect, how many female SPs are in Chicago's RX group?

I'm a female that will be joining their RX practice in Chicago. Kind of concerned.

Edit: changed name of thread

I admire that you are already gunning for SP as a 0L - if I had that kind of tenacity I wouldn't be stuck at my deadend KE job.

One might be worried about lopsided demographics in the partnership for reasons besides wanting to make shares.

[Anonymous User]

Kirkland RX made four new SPs this year, three of which were women (and one in Chicago).There has been a big push in the group to improve diversity. That said, the SPs are predominantly male (I believe 5 female SPs group-wide). I would be more concerned by the fact that bankruptcy filings are the lowest they've been in 35 years with no signs of that changing. RX has limited exit opportunities outside of lateraling to another law firm.

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business- ... gs-dwindle

[Anonymous User]

.

[Anonymous User]

Doesn't make a lot of sense to just consider the Chicago BK group in isolation, that group really is Chicago+Ny and, frankly, Chicago BK is way less important than NY BK at this point and the practice is basically run out of NY outside of COVID times with how much the Chicago people travel. Between Chicago and NY three women made SP in restructuring this year, so it's improving.

Isn't Kirkland's RX group in Chicago pretty big? I know women SPs are scarce in any practice group but 1 in Chicago seems pretty low. Also can you expand on the travel? Is there a lot of traveling in RX?

The Chicago RX group is pretty big, but it's just not where the center of the group is any more in terms of the people at the very top of the group.

Chicago people travel constantly outside of COVID times because BK is a very in-person-meeting/negotiation-heavy group, and the overwhelming majority of that discussion happens in NY (because that is where all the FAs are, all of the non-KE BK lawyers are, most of the financial principals are, etc). And when things aren't happening in NY they're normally happening in Delaware, Virginia, or TX.
A bit easier to get to TX from Chicago, but that's the only advantage. Basically no meaningful bankruptcies get filed in Illinois anymore. Occasionally some in-person meetings will happen in Chicago when the business itself/management is more convenient to Chicago than NY, but it's comparatively rare.

Of course, who knows what will happen post-COVID. Unclear how much will remain remote in terms of court hearings. The entire field absolutely believes that remote negotiation/mediation just doesn't get things done as quickly or effectively so it does seem like that will end up coming back to being much more in person. So, as a Chicago BK person, you should definitely be prepared for the fact that you're likely to travel a lot.

I swear. I've networked with at least 8 BK associates from Kirkland RX and NO ONE has mentioned this. Can you tell me what kind of things BK associates would be expected to do while traveling? I guess I'm asking about why it's necessary for them to have to travel. Aren't they juniors doing mostly paperwork? I was told about having to go to TX for BK court. So I'm assuming juniors go to DE for the same reason? Are they actually going in front of a judge? How often? So sorry for the questions but this is so useful.

If there's a way we can talk outside of here I would so appreciate that. Even anonymously. If it's too much of a hassle right now keeping it to tls is good too. Thanks so much.

I'm not the person you're responding to, and I'm not in the group either but I am going there (KE CHI) and from my experience in interviewing/networking it appears that most of the travel is what the OP you responded to described - meetings, negotiations, etc. Don't think juniors go into court often (please correct me if I'm wrong). One junior I talked with mentioned they had to travel to meet with co-counsel's junior to sift through a mountain of documents. It appeared to be pretty frequent travel though and mostly from Chicago to New York or Texas as the other poster mentioned, and not the other way around.

[Anonymous User]

Doesn't make a lot of sense to just consider the Chicago BK group in isolation, that group really is Chicago+Ny and, frankly, Chicago BK is way less important than NY BK at this point and the practice is basically run out of NY outside of COVID times with how much the Chicago people travel. Between Chicago and NY three women made SP in restructuring this year, so it's improving.

Isn't Kirkland's RX group in Chicago pretty big? I know women SPs are scarce in any practice group but 1 in Chicago seems pretty low. Also can you expand on the travel? Is there a lot of traveling in RX?

The Chicago RX group is pretty big, but it's just not where the center of the group is any more in terms of the people at the very top of the group.

Chicago people travel constantly outside of COVID times because BK is a very in-person-meeting/negotiation-heavy group, and the overwhelming majority of that discussion happens in NY (because that is where all the FAs are, all of the non-KE BK lawyers are, most of the financial principals are, etc). And when things aren't happening in NY they're normally happening in Delaware, Virginia, or TX.
A bit easier to get to TX from Chicago, but that's the only advantage. Basically no meaningful bankruptcies get filed in Illinois anymore. Occasionally some in-person meetings will happen in Chicago when the business itself/management is more convenient to Chicago than NY, but it's comparatively rare.

Of course, who knows what will happen post-COVID. Unclear how much will remain remote in terms of court hearings. The entire field absolutely believes that remote negotiation/mediation just doesn't get things done as quickly or effectively so it does seem like that will end up coming back to being much more in person. So, as a Chicago BK person, you should definitely be prepared for the fact that you're likely to travel a lot.

I swear. I've networked with at least 8 BK associates from Kirkland RX and NO ONE has mentioned this. Can you tell me what kind of things BK associates would be expected to do while traveling? I guess I'm asking about why it's necessary for them to have to travel. Aren't they juniors doing mostly paperwork? I was told about having to go to TX for BK court. So I'm assuming juniors go to DE for the same reason? Are they actually going in front of a judge? How often? So sorry for the questions but this is so useful.

If there's a way we can talk outside of here I would so appreciate that. Even anonymously. If it's too much of a hassle right now keeping it to tls is good too. Thanks so much.

Senior associates/NSPs are traveling for meetings, negotiations, hearings, etc…

Junior are mostly traveling for diligence purposes (i.e., going to the company with the FA to gather diligence for purposes of drafting first days). It’s much easier to have access to the company personnel in person, especially as the filing nears. With COVID, it’s possible to do this remotely (and efficiently-ish), so I expect post-COVID travel for juniors to significantly decrease.

Juniors also travel for the big hearings (mostly for support), but some courts are going to continue remote hearings, so I expect this to decrease as well.

[jotarokujo]

This is not surprising at all. Women are underrepresented at the partner level in all corporate disciplines, but we are disproportionately underrepresented in certain specific corporate disciplines, most notably bankruptcy and finance. I’m a female associate in finance and we can’t get other female associates to join our group for various reasons, so I don’t really see this problem getting any better, at least at my firm. Tough to make more female partners if you don’t have any female associates.

are women more likely to be in litigation than in corporate compared to men? i'm curious if there's anything that shows that and if so, why that would be

[Anonymous User]

This is not surprising at all. Women are underrepresented at the partner level in all corporate disciplines, but we are disproportionately underrepresented in certain specific corporate disciplines, most notably bankruptcy and finance. I’m a female associate in finance and we can’t get other female associates to join our group for various reasons, so I don’t really see this problem getting any better, at least at my firm. Tough to make more female partners if you don’t have any female associates.

are women more likely to be in litigation than in corporate compared to men? i'm curious if there's anything that shows that and if so, why that would be

Women are much less likely to make partner to begin with. Just looking at KE nalp info, associates are 41% female while partners are 23% female. And that's including NSP, ratio probably even worse for SP. NALP doesn't break it down by group, but the factors for why this happens are more likely to affect corporate.

https://www.nalpdirectory.com/employer_ ... hCondJSON=

[Anonymous User]

I can't speak of Kirkland but if you start looking at whether there are female partners in specific groups you're going to have a bad bad time.

Bonus points if you are looking for POC partners