Start Dates

Layoffs and Delayed Start Dates at Kirkland?

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Troubling rumors are circulating about Chicago-based Kirkland & Ellis. Tipsters say that: (1) layoffs are happening in the firm’s New York office, and (2) the start date for incoming associates is being pushed back to the end of the year.

The firm laid off 15 to 25 non-equity partners in January. Now it appears to be moving on to associates. A source says the firm started conducting layoffs of mid-levels in its New York office on Wednesday, and that they are still going on, writing this morning:

The layoffs are continuing today (mostly in the litigation and private equity departments). I’m not sure about the veracity of this, but I also heard that K&E’s NYC litigation department lost one or two big clients because they refused to lower their fees.

The firm spokesperson has not responded to our inquiries. If you have more information, please contribute to the comments, or send us a tip.

We’re also hearing that start dates for incoming associates at the firm have not been announced yet, but one 3L bound for Kirkland has gotten news that the start date will be December 2009 at the earliest.

Was told in writing that I won’t be starting until the end of the year for sure, and they left open pushing it back even further…. Guess my loans will have to wait….

Update: A 3L bound for Kirkland’s D.C. office questions the report of delayed start dates:

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I am a graduating 3L that will be starting in the fall at Kirkland’s D.C. office. When I accepted the offer, K&E told me I would hear back in the spring about start dates, bar expenses, etc. I am not sure what 3L can have a “letter in hand” about start dates, I have not received any start date information, nor has a fellow incoming K&E associate whom I just asked.

A round-up of the firms that have pushed back start dates, after the jump.


We’ve been watching start dates for 2009 incoming associates quickly recede into the distance at several firms. Hogan & Hartson pushed back to November 30, Latham pushed back to mid-December 2009, and Nixon & Peabody pushed farther, to January 2010.

Who wins the start date shotput competition? If you’re bound for Latham, and December 2009 is too early for you, you can accept $75,000 and defer your start date to October 2010.

Earlier: Prior Nationwide Start Date Watch coverage

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