So when's the K&E culling? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Or has it already begun? Anecdotal stories welcome!

[Baron7]

Layoffs are such juicy subject matter. Spill that tea, sis!

[Anonymous User]

We just gave 3 offers to laterals in my corporate sub-practice (not BK), so apparently its not happening to us right now.

[Anonymous User]

We just gave 3 offers to laterals in my corporate sub-practice (not BK), so apparently its not happening to us right now.

I also recently received a lateral offer plus a signing bonus. They don’t seem worried.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

A K&E culling would thrill everyone here, but I think we’re more likely to just see them become even stingier with equity

[Anonymous User]

Some of the crappy laterals that were hired last year, I'd help them pack their bags.

[Anonymous User]

100+ laid off today

[Anonymous User]

100+ laid off today

Can we get even a hint of source or context for this incredible claim?

[Anonymous User]

100+ laid off today

OMG

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

100+ laid off today

Got any proof ?

[Anonymous User]

100+ laid off today

Can we get even a hint of source or context for this incredible claim?

Can confirm: 193 Kirkland associates lost their associate jobs today…



…due to promotion to “partner.”

[Anonymous User]

100+ laid off today

OMG

Grandma, is that you?

Who trusts the internet in 2022?

[Anonymous User]

I can confirm this. 15,000 K&E associates were just laid off. A number of Lieutenant General of counsels were also given field demotions.

Dark day for the industry.

[Anonymous User]

100+ laid off today

OMG

Grandma, is that you?

Who trusts the internet in 2022?

I don’t know who to believe anymore

[Anonymous User]

heard last night that there would be layoffs at LW and KE today -- seems unclear if that happened?

[Anonymous User]

heard last night that there would be layoffs at LW and KE today -- seems unclear if that happened?

Can confirm senior (but not that senior) decently strong lit associate at LW laid off with a chunk of website time. Not divulging more info, and it wasn’t me but my source is good.

[Anonymous User]

heard last night that there would be layoffs at LW and KE today -- seems unclear if that happened?

Can confirm senior (but not that senior) decently strong lit associate at LW laid off with a chunk of website time. Not divulging more info, and it wasn’t me but my source is good.

yikes. looks like some confirmations re KE on Reddit

[Ultramar vistas]

heard last night that there would be layoffs at LW and KE today -- seems unclear if that happened?

Can confirm senior (but not that senior) decently strong lit associate at LW laid off with a chunk of website time. Not divulging more info, and it wasn’t me but my source is good.

yikes. looks like some confirmations re KE on Reddit

I’m not seeing any “confirmations” on Reddit or Fishbowl. Think people are confusing (understandably) the return to a normal program of associates being told that they are not up to par in their annual performance reviews, which happen to take place in October, with “layoffs”. The regular annual push out for underperformers had effectively been frozen for the past 2 years due to Covid and a desperate need for bodies, even those who didn’t really want to work, so I get that some 1st and 2nd years didn’t realize that this was a possibility, but it’s clearly back.

[Anonymous User]

Lol that’s not being culled? Someone define what “cull” means.

[Anonymous User]

Lol that’s not being culled? Someone define what “cull” means.

Ok, here’s the problem. People are being imprecise with their terms and inferences.

Yes, technically the firing of even an individual could be referred to as a “layoff” (as in “I was just laid off from my job”). And yes, the firing of low performers could technically be characterized with the term “culling.” But both of those terms imply additional significant negative things that aren’t necessarily true.

“Layoffs” evoke a situation where the company in question is in financial distress, and reduces cost by suddenly and unexpectedly firing an unusually high number of employees, often outside the usual evaluation cycle. This can and often does include average or even good performers. When people hear rumors of “layoffs at K&E” they instantly assume the additional conclusions “... because K&E has financial struggles, meaning lots of people will be let go, I’m not safe even if I’m not a low performer, and it could happen at any time.”

A relatively small number of people (in line with historical norms from 2012-2019) being fired for low performance, during the course of the normal review cycle, with 4 months of “garden leave” (full pay & benefits, website time, and job placement services), paired with continued strong financial performance at the firm, is not the same as “layoffs” as most people would understand it.

The problem with throwing around rumors with terms like “layoffs” and “culling” for normal routine firings is that it makes everyone freak the fuck out like they’re about to lose their job, when in reality they’re going to be just fine unless hours/performance are low. Stop making associates anxious for no reason.

YES, K&E has returned to normal, routine firing of low performers with generous severance packages. NO, K&E is NOT doing “layoffs” or a “culling.” Many, many other firms have also returned to their routine firings, while others are in fact struggling and doing hiring freezes or layoffs. The only reason we’re talking about K&E in particular is because everybody loves talking about K&E, no matter the topic.

If you’re an associate at K&E and you (a) are a new first year or rising second year, (b) don’t have super low hours or bad reviews, or (c) already had your annual review and nobody told you were fired, then you should just chill. Any bad news will come during the course of your review, not randomly. Unless you’re outrageously bad, first years are safe even from hours expectations. If you’re a rising third year or higher but your hours and performance are at least mediocre, you should be fine.

[Anonymous User]

prior poster. the word that was used to me was "layoffs," not "regular-way departures for poor performance," and was communicated to me the night before by an equity partner -- not an anxious associate -- at a peer firm who had heard about upcoming "layoffs" through network, not message boards

which is why I was asking.

I do not work at KE or LW, and I am sure the internal messaging strategy is consistent with the above -- "this is the return to 2019-era, the people we let go are being let go for performance reasons." that's what I would say, if I were them.

maybe it's true. I don't work at either of these firms. but I understand the distinction (although to some extent it's a continuum) between "laying off people who suck because they suck" and "laying people off because people aren't getting hours" (as does this LW poster)

[Anonymous User]

If the culling begins, would that likely mean more no offers for next year's summers? I'll be in Rx so I'm not that worried but all this talk is making me nervous

[Anonymous User]

Fishbowl KE looks a little rough right now. But, hard to tell volume in an anonymous forum. Definitely a slow down in some groups that have people worried.

[Anonymous User]

If the culling begins, would that likely mean more no offers for next year's summers? I'll be in Rx so I'm not that worried but all this talk is making me nervous

There is no way in hell Kirkland will no-offer a bunch of summers and you should all relax. It’s annoying to me that all these wild internet rumors and gleeful schadenfreude hopes of knocking Kirkland down a peg are causing summers and associates anxiety.

Just chill. All will be fine.

[Anonymous User]

What kind of bootlicking bullshit is it to say that firing people at an annual review is just “regular firings” rather than layoffs or culling.

First, who gives a shit about the term. Associates are getting pushed out of their jobs because the partners decided it’s more profitable. This is the way the industry works.

But second, anyone with a modicum of critical thinking skills should understand that the annual reviews are intrinsically tied to the firm’s decisions about firings. If the firm decides it needs to cut associate ranks, it will give out harsher reviews. A given review is not decided in a vacuum, there is no objective basis to receive a 2, or 3, or 4. Market factors are going to deflate associate scores and are going to push some of them away from the firm, because the partners want it that way.