Open Thread: Special Hours at Your Firm?
The Chicago office of Kirkland & Eliis is taking an extraordinary step for a major law firm. They are closing early:
The Chicago office will have an early closure tomorrow, November 4, to ensure the safety of our occupants as large crowds are anticipated in the area. Senator Obama is expected to be staying at the nearby Hyatt Hotel and Senator Biden is expected to be at the Fairmont. Street closures are rolling depending on crowd size, but are not known fully at this time. Columbus is already closed. Therefore, we are cancelling both our 2nd and 3rd shifts tomorrow and will shut down our offices at 3:30 p.m. Shuttle buses begin service at 2:35 p.m.
All employees must check with their supervisor, attorney or manager before departing. Please contact your manager or supervisor with questions. Normal operations resume at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 5. Thank you.
“Safety?” Does K&E think Obama supporters might start eating Biglaw associates?
The email isn’t specifically directed at lawyers, but if the concerns are great for support staff, attorneys must be similarly “at risk.”
Are any other Chicago area firms genuflecting to Obama today? Are any (ahem) Arizona firms making sure they stay out of McCain’s way? Let us know.
(74) 
Comments
LAST!!!
Second on election day!
pretzels, etc
either massive crowds celebrating or Chicago up in flames...good to close early
Kirkland's offices are right next to millenium park/grant park, where the Obama rally is going to take place. And the Fairmont hotel is connected to the Aon Center, where K&E's offices are. I'm not sure why they are concerned with safety, but from a logistical standpoint, closing early makes sense, because it will probably be hard to get around/get home after a certain time. Other Chicago law firms are also closing early.
they're worried the local tribes may riot
Why is there such a safety concern?
Do they expect a huge celebratory riot i the streets when Obama wins?
Great. A black man finally gets elected president and 20 people gets knifed to death in the celebration.
Sorry this is semi-unrelated....but I just voted a few hours ago...no need for ID and my deceased relatives are still listed (after 8 years) even after sending the necessary paperwork and telling them every year...
Election is definitely fixed.
All loop businesses in Chicago have been encouraged to close early. It is not unusual that Kirkland has complied, I know at least one other law firm in the city is doing the same. This is because as many as a million people are expected downtown this evening. This is not an "extraordinary" step. Elie, please read the news before posting.
Personally I'd be more worried about you eating a Biglaw associate.
Third shift? Sweet Jesus.
We're closing at 4....(loop firm)
In-house here; we're based in the Loop and we're not closing early.
Baker & McKenzie is also closing early. Located next door to Kirkland, connected to Fairmont and within block of Hyatt.
Today's the election? Son of a bitch! Why didn't the media tell me?!
Such a great story, 8. I wish you would post it in all the threads this morning. Oh, you already have? Great, thanks, I look forward to reading it 12 more times today.
14 - Baker? Is this some sort of business establishment?
I don't blame K&E. There will be violent riots after tonight when Obama concedes defeat.
"Normal operations resume at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 5."
This is assuming there is a Chicago at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 5.
Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos.
Many, many loop businesses are closing early; the city requested them to do so. The Chicago Tribune made similar recommendations to all people working in the loop, last week.
Anyone else feel like today is the end of the world??
Black people like to stab things when they are happy and sad, its no big deal.
stab stab thats a wound
stab stab thats a kill
winner winner fried chicken for dinner
Sidley Chi is not closing early.. We did get a nice memo saying not to talk to the press.
Our firm's chicago office is closing early.
19: Brilliant.
"Well, I believe I'll vote for a third-party candidate."
"Go ahead, throw your vote away!"
21 - that's pretty much exactly how I feel.
Skadden Chicago isn't closing early, they are just closing.
Mystal, you stupid shit. Businesses in the area are closing early because there are expected to be 1,000,000 people at Obama's rally this evening.
That creates a safety issue in the same way that any large crowd in a small area creates a safety issue. The problem is compounded because the crowd will be hitting its peak at the same time as the evening rush hour starts, and many of the main streets in the area (including a portion of Lake Shore Drive) are going to be shut down.
Instead of just posting whatever memo some idiot first year happens to send you, why don't you actually consider whether it is newsworthy?
KE lets their attorneys off super-early for the public good, and still pays MARKET-SHATTERING BONUSES. Across all offices, 1st year bonus = 50k, 3rd year = 80k, 5th year = 105k, nonequity compensation after 6th year pwns "senior associate" compensation
i'm nervous about being beaten by roving hoards of happy and angry black people while i am out nervously walking to vote
-nervous T-10 1L
I'm not allowing a terrorist to disrupt my ordinary daily business activities. That's just what they want us to do.
Don't you idiots know the election's been moved to tomorrow? Sheesh.
28 - such anger. You should get that under control.
30,
If I were you, I would worry more about the fact that you're terminally stupid.
Being stupid is no way to go through life, son.
i'm nervous about being beaten by roving hoards of happy and angry black people while i am out nervously walking to vote
-nervous T-10 1L
ps: i am nervous kenyans rioting in supermarkets
Baker & McKenzie is closing at 3:00.
Skadden DC is closing its doors early today since the partners are expecting an Obama victory and are in deep mourning.
Why are there so many racists on these boards? How did you people pass character and fitness? It's just pathetic.
We're a large patent law boutique in NY with biglaw salaries and bonuses (200+ attorneys, 160K, 40K first year bonus, etc.). We have off today! Woohoo! Boutiques are awesome. Big law sucks ass. The End.
cuz we're gonna party like it's 1999
Way to showoff your knee-jerk liberal bent...K&E is across the street from the expected Obama coronation ceremony.
Skadden Alabama is closing its office all day to protect all of its caucasian employees from rioting, looting and general tomfoolery.
How are you a recist and pass character and fitness? They don't commit any crimes and don't advocate extreme behavoir. They just sit around and be racist on the internet like cowards.
39- I thought boutique meant small? Does it mean specialized (or something other than small) when used to describe a law firm?
What is a "recist"?
43 = MysTTTal
I hate recists! They are deplorable, despicable, and utterly detestable.
Jackie C
Skadden Chicago's office is far enough away from Millenium Park that it shouldn't be a problem. And by no problem, I mean it won't take people more than five hours to get home.
Palin was hot in college
Palin was hot in college
Michelle Obama just tried to eat Trig Palin.
38 - seriously.
Do we assume only white people read here? Sheesh. What a life you all lead.
38 - seriously.
Do we assume only white people read here? Sheesh. What a life you all lead.
38 - seriously.
Do we assume only white people read here? Sheesh. What a life you all lead.
51 - trig, track - they sounds like trolls' names.
Elie is a douche. The firm is obviously doing this because it will be hard for employees to get to and from the area starting later tonight. It's called being considerate, not overreacting.
38 - seriously.
Do we assume only brown people read here? Sheesh. What a life you all lead. Please stay in Texas where hopefully a hurricane will kill you.
Damn you ,10, for getting to that punchline quicker than Elie makes it through a buffet line.
K&E is right next door to the Fairmont and 1 block from the Hyatt. It's in the second tallest building in Chicago, and it looks exactly like the WTC.
K&E is a scummy law firm, with scummy lawyers, who practice law in an unethical way. They are also part of the right-wing hate machine. Chances are they are closing early so that their employees don't have to be near any dirty "Democrats" especially not any brown ones.
Down with K&E.
K&E is not part of the right-wing hate machine. You should check and see where most of the firms donations are going...You'd be surprised.
Some people are getting out of work a few hours early because of a big rally?
This story is not news or gossip worthy.
Fail.
Baker & McKenzie is closing at 3:00. And by closing I mean for good. This firm is TTT.
"nonequity compensation after 6th year pwns "senior associate" compensation"
Has pwned. Won't this year. Ask someone with shares about the loan related to the TI for the new building.
"'Safety?" Does K&E think Obama supporters might start eating Biglaw associates?'"
What a stupid comment. Kirkland's offices are right at the north end of Grant Park where the Obama event is being held. The area where non-ticketed people are required to assemble is directly across the street from Kirkland. Given the extraordinary numbers of people who are EVEN NOW assembling in the Park, it's quite sensible for Kirkland to let its people out early. Other firms and businesses of all sorts are doing the same, and public transportation agencies have adjusted their schedules to run extra buses and trains.
Next time before you people crack wise, consider boning up on your geography -- not that we could expect a bunch of snippy little East Coast snobs like you to acknowledge there's anything you don't know.
Chicago Lawyer -- and not a Kirland lawyer, either.
"'Safety?" Does K&E think Obama supporters might start eating Biglaw associates?'"
What a stupid comment. Kirkland's offices are right at the north end of Grant Park where the Obama event is being held. The area where non-ticketed people are required to assemble is directly across the street from Kirkland. Given the extraordinary numbers of people who are EVEN NOW assembling in the Park, it's quite sensible for Kirkland to let its people out early. Other firms and businesses of all sorts are doing the same, and public transportation agencies have adjusted their schedules to run extra buses and trains.
Next time before you people crack wise, consider boning up on your geography -- not that we could expect a bunch of snippy little East Coast snobs like you to acknowledge there's anything you don't know.
Chicago Lawyer -- and not a Kirkland lawyer, either.
Perkins Coie is closing early as well. From what I hear, all large law firms with offices downtown are closing at 3 pm.
The Black Panthers are planning on attacking K&E at 2:30 pm today. All white K&E employees are encouraged to rub black shoe polish on their faces in an effort to stave off violent reprisals.
The comments are no longer worth reading because the idiot Bababooey trollers have taken over.
No doubt, we'll be seing YSB again some time soon.
Elie, if you don't start asserting some control, this blog will go to shit.
59 - Some douche at an inferior firm whose client had their lunch eaten by K&E's client.
they're afraid of the wildin' and I don't blame them.
Funny the MysTTTall refers to eating in his post.
39 - so what? you want a cookie for getting paid similar to biglaw. that still won't change the fact that you live in NYC and have trouble getting laid.
Mayor Daley has asked downtown businesses to close early to help ease congestion downtown. This isnt a Kirkland decision. This site is becoming more and more irrelevant. BRING BACK LAT!!!! BRING BACK LAT!!!!BRING BACK LAT!!!!BRING BACK LAT!!!!BRING BACK LAT!!!!BRING BACK LAT!!!!BRING BACK LAT!!!!BRING BACK LAT!!!!
guess ATL readers don't like black people...see comments above...
The Mgmnt co at my condo bldg is closing at 3. The bldg is 5 miles north of the event. Let me say again, 5 miles, IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. Why are they closing? Because they the mayor requested it. Um, the mayor requested downtown businesses to close, not businesses 5 miles away! Real reason is that they are union.