Kirkland & Ellis Associates: Show Up To Work Tomorrow To Talk About Your Bonus
Kirkland & Ellis is perhaps the biggest bonus shoe left to drop. Will the firm follow Skadden as the firm’s prestige and profitability suggests? Or will Kirkland pull a Half-Skadden and settle down with the rest of the market?
We’ll know tomorrow. A firm-wide email just gave K&E New York associates a big reason to show up for work the day before Christmas Eve. John Desmarais is holding what we assume will be a very interesting meeting tomorrow:
Subject: Compensation NY Associates:I’d like to have a brief meeting with you all tomorrow at 10 am on the 50th Floor (50G) to discuss salaries and bonuses for this year and next. At that time, also, I’ll say a few words about how the office and the firm are doing in the current economic climate.
jd
This could be good news: why would K&E have a full meeting only to do what Cravath and the rest of the market has already done?
Of course, this could be terrible news: why would they need to “discuss salaries” when raises should be perfunctory,at a financially secure institution?
More on Kirkland’s meeting after the jump.
If we are going to read between the lines even further, it is worth mentioning that this email was sent out only to New York associates (let us know if there is a similar Chicago meeting scheduled by emailing tips@abovethelaw.com).
The New York focus could be significant. A tipster points out what many people have been hearing over the last couple of weeks:
Rumors of in-fighting between Chicago and NY about whether to go Skadden or Cravath.
It is believed that the New York partners favor the Cravath scale.
Could this meeting be an explanation to K&E New York associates about why they are getting less than their Chicago colleagues? Remember, O’Melveny has set the standard for paying NYC associates less money than associates in other offices.
But Sidley Austin has also come out putting the Chicago market in the Cravath camp.
Tomorrow, we’ll see if Kirkland plays follower or leader.
Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of associate bonuses.
(175) 
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jay's first!!!
Am I furst??
jay's first!!!
QUINN EMANUEL SUCKS
first?
MysTTTal.
Scooped by autoadmit again. Give credit where credit is due.
Kirkland to Quinn Emanuel "KILL YOUR CHILDREN" scale!
QUINN EMANUEL SUCKS
TENTH!
What other Chicago firms have announced?
http://www.xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=900693&mc=19&forum_id=2
a-woo-oo
this post is inaccurate on so many levels:
1) the NY office has a meeting every year to discuss the bonus grid every year for NY associates. this has nothing to do with CH or any other office.
2) as for rumors of in fighting, i've heard the exact opposite -- NY prefers skadden while CH wants cravath.
Is this even a real firm?
13 is right on.
14, who are you to ask?
Get ready to spread your butt cheeks, so K&E can smell the juicy insides.
...because they want to avoid e-mail forwards to ATL?
I just heard that NY is going to be on the Skadden scale. Not sure about CH yet.
"A firm-wide email just gave K&E New York associates..."
It's not a firm-wide email, it's an office-wide email.
"This could be good news: why would K&E have a full meeting only to do what Cravath and the rest of the market has already done?"
Becuase that's what happens EVERY year? Christ.
13, you're a racist for pointing out these errors. Don't you know that affirmative action beneficiaries are allowed two errors per blog post, since their ancestors suffered slavery seven generations ago. Any criticism of this affirmative action policy is racism too.
first?
Elie: JD compensation letters our today. Need an open thread to discuss.
if K&E goes NY, I'll be submitting my resume in the not too distant future.
21: are you a lawyer? fucking frightening.
OMM NY is the red-headed step child that generates no revenue.
K&E NY is probably generating more revenue per lawyer than Chicago these days. No way in hell Chicago would end up getting more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwH1taatvyM
if K&E goes Skadden all up in here, I'll be submitting my resume in the not too distant future.
I expected my firm to go skadden but they cheeped out and went Cravath all over us.
25 = racist who lives in Ft Worth
#28, stfu, K&E doesn't want you.
kirkland>>>latham
5-1 K&E pulls a Skadden.
Elie - Jones Day thread please.
19 -- what's your source? i've only heard that we are going cravath firmwide.
21- why don't you go and screw yourself, since clearly no one else wants to...
why can't people save the vitriol for their own blogs?
why can't people save the vitriol for their own blogs?
33, Jones Day never gives bonuses. What are you worried about? That in this economy they will ask for money back from associates?
K&E NY meeting is par for the course. They do that every year. There is no memo. The partners write the high, low and median bonus numbers for each class year on a white board in front of all the (salivating) associates. Makes it much more difficult to report.
38, get a clue. Maybe the case with JD DC, but the rest of the offices pay bonuses - pretty good ones for high performers.
I am nailing a sheep on my own blog right now!!!!! Web 2.0 bitches, suck it!!!!
Kiiiiiiirklannnnddd....Kirkkkkklannnnddd
where kirkland at where kirkland at
Wavin' the flag I'm from Madison Ave
I came to take da game in my Daddy Kane Chain
Latham Gave It Up Smooth, they ain't wanna hear the Bang - BANG - I'm back on my bully shit that 60 Centre Street Black Hoodie shiiiiit
Half a billi in the escrow; IOLA stop anybody bank stop anybody what yo' bonus Hoe? $32.000 prorated...Big B's On The Wheels; Spread LoveThe Brooklyn Way "B" How's It Feeeel?
I'm on my Robin Thicke Shit if shit ever gets thick I'm back to robbin' Latham quick; Trick Click? Ante up
All Cravath is Britney pull yo' panties up; whole borough is wit' me hol' ya affirmations up; one-four buck town Kirkland what the f***********k
Isn't K&E known for giving bonuses above market to help with recruiting? It would seem weird if they went with the market or below firms like Skadden.
They didn't pick the room '50G' by coincidence.
Hi, my name is Hyman G. Darling.
I work for Bacon ,Mendelssohn & Rosencrantz.
38, hope that you're not at JD but clearly, it sucks to be you.
JD letters are hard-copy, being hand delivered here in NYC. Thus, not everybody getting them at once.
K&E SF associates have received calls with bonus numbers. Seem to be on Cravath scale.
Just got my JD letter.
No bonus, BUT I am being paid significantly above market for NYC next year.
Its market for my year + a near-Skadden-sized bonus spread over all of 2009. Makes sense for them since now I cant collect my bonus and quit.
And, now, I wont. = )
K&E SF associates have received calls with bonus numbers. Seem to be on Cravath scale.
49 - And what year are you?
49 - so for calendar year 2009 you will come out ahead of peers at other NYC firms (after they are paid their bonus at end of 2009)?
48
Give us some numbers.
49 - I figured that JD's new comp system would work that way (no bonuses but salaries way above lockstep for high performers), but I suspect it is only the case for more junior associates. Can't see them doing the same for senior associate salaries, or else they'd be paying well above $300k.
49, how much did you bill this year?
Same method being used for JD Chicago. No bonus, but significant salary increases.
40, See?
-38
4th year, $285,000 at JD after special increases.
56 - For all years?
58 -- if you are serious, you are the man!
Billing above 2000 but that that much above. Still quite busy NOW though, which may be significant. Good reviews but im not a superstar or anything.
Dont feel like giving out my year...too much info.
Yeah I come out ahead: very nearly the same as market for my year + a full-Skadden. BUT, the "bonus" is spread over 2009 in the form of higher base salary. No big lump sum.
59 - no idea if for all years. Only received envelope disclosing my increase.
56 - and what year are you?
59
Billing above 2000 but that that much above. Still quite busy NOW though, which may be significant. Good reviews but im not a superstar or anything.
Dont feel like giving out my year...too much info.
Yeah I come out ahead: very nearly the same as market for my year + a full-Skadden. BUT, the "bonus" is spread over 2009 in the form of higher base salary. No big lump sum.
OH yeah: im 49. Sorry for the double post.
Elie, do a post on JD already! This looks huge...
Elie, do a post on JD already! This looks huge...
JD Cleveland Office -- hard copies being delivered. 3rd year, killed 2000 hours, $45 K bonus. Jones Day, Nights and Weekends, indeed!
Islam = TTT
48, 50 - numbers please. I don't believe you.
sheep nailing = ttt
38/57 - see what? comp system is new. and from firm's perspective, damn smart too. avoids huge immediate cash outlay and related HR costs and instead, spreads them out over 2009, while keeping high performers bound to firm for entire year and not just until bonus payout (well, in normal times at least). someone at JD thought to get some accounting advice!
did you have to bill a ton to get a bonus/exceptional salaray increase at JD?
I am so glad I became a gynecologist instead of an attorney at Kirkland.
Kirkland will be destroy the market. JD should not be spoken of in the same breath.
lol @ 73
72 - No.
Did any first years (current second years) at JD get a bonus/extra salary bump?
Me be 74. Kirkland will be destroy the market. Market destroy make 74 be much happy. No market destroy make 74 MAD! ::up-ends table and lets out throaty "AAaargh!"::
73 - I have still seen more pussy than you
73, do both, become a proctologist.
Elie: "Will the firm follow Skadden as the firm's prestige and profitability suggests?"
How do you know what the firm's profits are/were for 2008?
48 is right. K&E SF appears to be paying on the half-Skadden scale. There goes the whole "K&E destroys the market" thing. This sucks.
Elie,
I am insulted that Jones Day has been effectively forced to share its bonus thread with another firm. Its almost too late now; its past 5 and the moment is lost. WTF dude?
Anyone in an office other than SF hear anything?
48 & 82-prove yourself. What is the KITA case this year?
nice, 85.
Judging by the lack of substantive comments, I think it's safe to say that no one has any hard numbers for K&E yet.
48 & 82
Even better question. Name the most and least successful party in last year's KITA.
"Name the most and least successful party in last year's KITA."
Jesus, I am an actual Kirkland Associate, and I have no fricking idea. You seem to be one of those people who takes KITA too seriously.
Agree with 87. If SF voicemails went out, the comments would be flooded with comments. I'm sure there will be a flood of comments tomorrow around 10:30...
NW D&D, so GOI, 85
Boo. This sucks. I wish someone had real information.
K&E Chicago Associate
89
Anyone who did not sleep through their KITA could answer that question. KITA should be taken seriously. The difference between a 6th year Associate at K&E and every other firm is having run 6 two-day trials. And KITA performances your last three years matter alot given that you will not make Partner if you cannot be counted on to perform should your cases go to trial.
This is the SAME THING THEY DID LAST YEAR. See ATL:
"As in past years, John Desmarais will give a short presentation this week to explain our associate bonus methodology. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 4 pm in Conference Room 50G-H. The bonuses will be paid before the end of the month."
http://abovethelaw.com/2007/12/associate_bonus_watch_a_preann.php
Hardly a reason to panic or speculate.
89
Please send an e-mail to Steve McCormick and Tefft Smith telling them KITA should not be taken seriously and forward their responses to #FW Litigation Associates. I could use a good laugh.
95: I'm just observing this thread and have to point out that I find it sad you are a litigator and your reading comprehension is as poor as it is. 89 only had 13 words in that sentence and you managed to miss the point.
94: Notice how last year they only discussed bonus while this year the intent is to discuss salary for next year as well.
lol, 96. then again, memo from desmarais (another lit jockey) won't get any awards either.
96
If that is your opinion you do not understand the importance of KITA at K&E. I will leave it at that.
WHERE IS THE MONEY LEBOWSKI????????
Seriously friend, step away from the Kool-Aid bowl.
Tonight it was the egg nog bowl in DC.
Every corporate or IP associate would miss that question too. Thank god they don't make us do KITA after we pay our Kita dues in the summer. Yahoo KICP
93 says: "The difference between a 6th year Associate at K&E and every other firm is having run 6 two-day trials."
That's true, but a bit misleading. 6th years at Williams & Connolly will have run 12 trials (real ones too!).
Is Kirkland's IP group hiring laterals? I need to GTFO of my current situation.
What is the Williams & Connolly program like?
I call bullshit on Associates anywhere running a trial.
85 - the KITA case for this year is Consolidated Department Stores, et al. v. The City of Nita and Northwest Dredge & Dock.
K&E SF bonuses have been announced. All indications point to a modified Cravath scale with adjustments up/down for hours/performance.
Answer 88's question!
85
What hours billed at class level is equal to Cravath?
If it is 1800 then I would not be shocked. If it 2000 I would.
106 -- based on what i've heard, associates obviously have "adult supervision," but when you're a 6th yr, you're pretty much "running the show." if 1st years are arguing motions and taking depositions, running the trial as a 6th year isn't unbelievable.
Palmer House to 190!
Last year K&E SF started doling out bonuses around 1600 hours, so hopefully the end-result is still decent.
I have never heard of an Associate running a trial at K&E. The few 6th year Associates who are still around may manage a case day to day with adult supervision but running a trial is a different ballgame. If any K&E Associate can prove me wrong pls provide an example.
K&E SF people - tell me your class year, your review rank, your hours, and your bonus.
JD Chicago: Received letter today. Compensation for 2009 is more than what I expected (and more than market salary for my class). Happy with compensation, though it would have been nice to receive it lump sum.
115 - How many hours did you bill? Are you a first year, or another class year?
95/99: Seriously, you can't figure this out? First of all, 89 said you were someone who probably took KITA "too seriously." You told him to write a letter that he doesn't think KITA should be taken "seriously." That is terrible reading comprehension at best, and at worst, a disingenious characterization of the guy calling you an uptight asshole and ignores the fact that he said nothing about whether KITA should be taken seriously or not. Do you do that in your briefs as well?
Secondly, when I point this out to you, your response is "If that is your opinion you do not understand the importance of KITA at K&E"? Are you a retard?
God, K&E associates are idiots. I thought it was just on the transactional side, but I guess not.
K&E SF has not announced yet. Neither has any other office.
It's so funny to see the posers in these comments blatantly lying about shit, dumbasses- most of the posts during the day must be from losers who have been canned from their firms because they came across to their colleagues as being a piece of shit
117
Get the stick out of your ass and relax. Your problem is that you are totally ignorant of the underlying circumstances.
The question 88 asked is perfectly valid in that anyone who participated in last year's KITA should be able to answer that question. When one party escaped liability in 70% of the KITA trials it is pretty fucking obvious it was the easiest case to defend. When one party was hit with liability in 90% of the trials it is pretty fucking obvious that it was the hardest to defend. The case is so unbalanced alot of us complained it should be scrapped.
My shot at 89 indicated my opinion was he had not taken KITA seriously at all.
You can't triple stamp a double stamp
Kirkland always announces in a meeting. I imagine a reason salaries are being discussed is because in this market, many are concerned about what will happen with their salaries.
Much ado about nothing for now.
JD DC: nothing extra at all. No bonus. No "extra" increase in lieu of bonus. No explanation why DC again gets screwed.
123
What happened to Associates when Kirkland won the Breed case your partners took on a quasi contingency basis and billed an insane number of Associate hours to? Did the JD partners screw those Associates or were they paid their full billings. You may not have been around then but I am curious to know if you were.
Can we please get a jones day thread? Jones Day did the first smart thing this bonus season of all the V25 firms. Jones Day is compensating associates in a fair way that will encourage associates to stay with the firm. In a year when the market is no longer well-defined, Jones Day is the one firm that has figured out a way to keep associates happy while promoting the needs of the business in a difficult economic time.
While our compensation is confidential, I can tell you that Jones Day Chicago paid very competitive bonuses last year, and now pays higher base salaries than any other firm in the vault 100.
-- Happy Chicago Associate
Not to mention, the fact that JD's salary structure is geared at keeping associate s shows the firm's strength. Other firms seem to be structuring bonuses and salary in a way that will encourage associates to leave immediately.
Jones Day is a V25 firm??? How the eff did they sneak in there? Did they take another crappy firm's spot (maybe Cadwalader's)?
JD Chicago associate here. Had very good reviews and billed near 2000 but nothing beyond market for my class. What gives?
They have been V25 for many years. Ask Former Jones Day lawyer Justice Scalia or one of the 50 former supreme court clerks in the issues and appeals group how they got to the V25. Will be V10 by next year baby!
123, 128: the new JD structure gives you a clear indication of where you stand with the firm (not just based on quantity of work, but quality). If you are unhappy with your comp, that should tell you something because plenty of JD associates got way above market salaries.
130 - so my very good reviews were a farce?
128
128 -- same boat. Third year, good reviews, and billed about 2100. Probably 2000 or just under if you discount my pro bono hours. I think some combo of age and the hours component is the answer, but I would feel less shafted if they were honest about pro bono counting against you.
At least I don't work at Latham.
Pop quiz, Elie: For which of the following firms would an open thread with anonymous commenting be more valuable?
(a) Yet another NY firm paying the same bonus structure to every associate with a pulse that we've reading about for the past several weeks, or
(b) A national firm with lots of offices and individualized black box comp structure.
Since HLS apparently didn't equip you well to deal with this type of question, I'll give you a little hint: it's not (a), moron.
what year are you 128?
132 - Yeah, I'm wondering if you needed 2000 client billables (i.e., not including pro bono) to be eligible for this "extra" base salary increase? Every indication I've gotten from the firm is that this should not be the case. So, that leaves me confused.
People on here insist that your salary "lets you know where you stand with the firm" but then I don't understand why I am getting nothing but positive reviews.
128
Here is what I have been able to piece together thus far. We will be able to piece together more specific grids by class tomorrow (when the "official" announcements are taking place).
K&E = CravaTTTh +/- for hrs.
The hrs. cutoff for bonus is much higher than in previous years where they happily gave bonuses to essentially everyone. No salary freeze.
1600 hrs. @ Skadden = $$$$; 1600 hrs. @ K&E = nada
2000 hrs. @ Skadden = $$$$; 2000 hrs. @ K&E = $$
2250 hrs. @ Skadden = $$$$; 2250 hrs. @ K&E = $$$
2500 hrs. @ Skadden = $$$$; 2500 hrs. @ K&E = $$$$ (<2% of associates)
K&E no longer pays top of the market. Plain and simple.
Nicely done, 133.
136, how'd u find that out?
JD stub year, major non-DC office: I know where I stand with the firm. Ouch.
K&E calls have started going out from sheppards.
Confirmed Cravath scale. No salary freeze.
Extra 100 over 2000 hours gets you an additional $2,500.
130 - why don't you shut up unless you know what you're talking about. JD DC was the only major JD office to pay no bonuses last year, while Chicago and NY received bonuses. This year, no one in DC received any additional increases. Pay decisions are decentralized by office, and the DC office doesn't play by the same rules. One firm worldwide, my ass.
138, it's pretty easy for people to just make shit up.
Ditto on very happy Chicago associate. Third Year. Approximately 2000 hours in 2008. Salary for 2009 significantly above market in Chicago.
143 - I am in exact same position, but nothing above market for me, WTF?! Nothing but great things were heard in my review. I don't understand.
120 -- i am in lit and i went to kita last year. i dont remember the case other than it was about some nerdy douche who got into an accident at a nuclear power plant.
oh, i guess you didn't think i took it seriously, and you know what, i was too busy billing and making the firm money rather than being a shitty associate who was billing seamless meals to the KITA code.
Though I work at a different V15 firm, I wonder whether JD has found a niche as the Twins/Athletics in BigLaw as the consistently solid, low budget firm that never gets respect. I nearly worked at JD and worry I passed them up to work at the Orioles of BigLaw.
seriously, stop arguing about kita. you're making us look like douches.
for a firm that normally leaks like the Nixon administration, this info has been airtight. not a good sign.
my heart says skadden+ for 2200+ billers but my brain says cravath. if it was anything other than cravath, we would have (1) heard about it already from individual partners, and (2) they wouldn't be putting it out with the trash on christmas eve eve.
the SF people are definitely lying.
Chicago K&E Associate
Any Class of 2007 Jones Day Associates get a bonus/increased base salary?
147
It is Cravath based. 2200 at class got you nowhere near Skadden. Extra hours did not buy you much extra compensation either. The only deviation I suspect from Cravath is that the above class people will not get the measly difference between the years on the Cravath scale. Otherwise the message it sends is that being above class is not worth much until your last two years.
149, what office are you? how do you know?
if this is true, then it will be interesting to see how associates react. i bet hours fall off the cliff.
Anyone think the K&E NY office may post Skadden numbers?
I called into my voice-mail and got my number.
1) It is what it is.
2) Don't you remember being told during Associate meetings that our pay system is "proprietary information"? Shhhh!!!!!
3) Taxes will take at least 40% off the top anyway.
4) The play is for partnership not $10-15K now so bill more, learn more and be above class.
K&E DC Associate
Fuck you, 152. You probably billed 1600 in Energy and are happy to get anything.
153
152 - No fighting Shakira!
I am in Litigation and was well over 2000 hours. If Energy was such a shitty practice why did King & Spalding just hire 3 partners and an associate away from our office?
"I have never heard of an Associate running a trial at K&E."
You mean recently, right? I've been gone for years, and wasn't in Lit, but "heard of" then-curretn share partners running trials (not strategy, necessarily) as associates. Once, it was not unusual.
"Kirkland always announces in a meeting."
Historically, only in NYC. That was b/c NYC gave a minimum bonus of NYC market (subj. to hours minimum and "with class" rating). Not a good idea to have a meeting where you tell the first years who billed 1900+ in 9 months (old bonus year) that they were getting $1500 (a/k/a a "Brown & Wood bonus").
@152:
Would be more plausible if you added the detail about v.mail marking. B/c those sorts of v.mail all get left one way.
At least some people at K&E SF did get numbers today. I guess it depends on who your shepherd is or maybe what group you're in. My number was ever so slightly about the Cravath scale (like less than $1k after taxes).
JD associate here. Market raise with solid hours, marginal bump over base. What gives? I knew JD was a TTT but wow, even in this economy, JD did great. JD essentially pulled a Latham. Lat, you have to give this coverage to shame JD as an institution.
At least some people at K&E SF did get numbers today. I guess it depends on who your shepherd is or maybe what group you're in. My number was ever so slightly above the Cravath scale (like less than $1k after taxes).
Makes me glad I didn't go to K&E SF... DON'T BUY THE ABOVE MARKET HYPE! SKADDEN FOREVER!
seriously. f*** jeromes day. skull f*** to come soon to those in power.
Does K+E have any actual work in their corporate department right now?
152, you DC folks are insufferable.
~K&E NY associate
Wow, this thread confirms just how shitty a place it must be to work at K&E. I got this vibe when interviewing with them and am soooooooo glad I didn't go there. Sounded then (and now) like a group of huge douches.
hahahahaha. Kirkland is such a TTT. Yesterday posters said kirkland and jones day should not be mentioned in the same breath. Now jones day associates are making more than kirkland. hahahaha.
Kirkland is going to match skadden.
has matched Skadden
Spoke with an in-the-loop partner in McDermott's DC office... There are problems, real problems. Word is that BB and DR will have an all-associate meeting after the New Year; it wont be pretty.
But shit, I'm busy and am sick of all the slackers in trial, etc. billing nothing and taking home more pay then me. Its about time they get the axe.
It's official - it's Cravath, just got my call. I won't go into too many details, but I'll say that I was "around" 2,000 hours, "with class," and I'm getting "around" $20k. K&E is now nothing more than a two-tiered Sidley.
-- Pissed K&E Chicago Associate
168 here - I'm class of 2006
Class of 2007 JD Associate here (non DC office). Got nothing more than market.
doubt 2007 jd associates will get much (if any) extra.
Another Chicago K&E associate here -- just got my call. It is certainly in the Cravath range. Billed about 2100, and my bonus is about $1000 over Cravath.
This is the non-informative quote from Desmairis today at the NYC meeting concerning layoffs.
"No layoffs in the foreseeable future if you are performing at the top of the market."
It will be interesting to see how the JD associate salaries effect the JD NEPs when they get their letters at the end of March. Undoubtably they will get fucked, especially in the Ohio offices, where a substantial number of partners and associates are well below 2000 billable hours.
171 -- why do you say that?