Nationwide Layoff Watch: Kirkland & Ellis Fires Non-Equity Partners

Kirkland & Ellis has asked a number of non-equity partners to leave, multiple sources report. The timing is unclear, but they may have up to six months to pack their things.

The number of laid-off non-equity partners — or “non-share partners,” in K&E parlance — is believed to hover somewhere between 15 and 25. Some are in litigation and some in corporate, but we understand that all of those let go are in Kirkland’s Chicago office.

A tipster points out:

All were told it’s because [of] performance, but most were considered fine lawyers and rated with or above their class each year.

Kirkland & Ellis spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment by the time of this posting.

It’s important to remember that Kirkland & Ellis has a fairly large class of non-equity or income partners. Kirkland uses the “non-share partner” classification liberally, and they tend to make more lawyers “partners,” at earlier stages in their careers. Some K&E “partners” would be senior associates at other firms.

Kirkland also paid out Cravath-level bonuses. When Kirkland announced their bonuses, many commenters opined that bonuses were better than layoffs and that K&E would not do layoffs.

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But it looks like Kirkland has had to do some more belt-tightening as the economy continues to tumble. While laying off partners is unusual, it’s not unheard of; last fall, Jenner & Block axed 10 partners (both equity and non-equity).

Earlier: Associate Bonus Watch: Kirkland & Ellis Pays Cravath Scale

Prior ATL coverage of layoffs

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