What's Going On at Kirkland?

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We are hearing a lot of chatter about Kirkland & Ellis, perhaps in response to our post last week about possible layoffs there.

In New York, at least four associates were recently let go. And conference space has been blocked off by partners today and no one knows why. There was a time when partners booking conference space was no big deal, but after Latham’s and Orrick’s conference room-facilitated mass layoffs, the mysterious booking is freaking people out. Writes a tipster:

Everyone at the NY office is talking about the rumors of layoffs coming this Friday. The rumor is that 1st/2nd years will not be targeted (no one can substantiate that though). Conference rooms have been booked through the week by Thomas Yannucci and Jeff Hammes (both on the Firm Committee — one in lit, one in corporate) and are the only bookings without a client-matter #. Another room next to Hammes is booked by Adam Carnese, the office manager in the NY office for Friday afternoon. Those who get fired are escorted from the building by Adam and his staff (at least in the past).

Does anyone know what’s happening in Kirkland NYC today? Are the conference room booked for some kind of happy announcement, or is Kirkland Latham-styling?

Kirkland spokespeople have no comment on this.

The conference room schedule for the day, along with rumors circulating in Kirkland’s D.C. office, after the jump.


A source in Kirkland’s NYC office gave us the schedule for the day:

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[T]hey’ve assembled a pretty mean looking slaughterhouse conveyor belt in those conference rooms.

All day: Hammes, the Chicago partner you’ve never worked with and won’t take it personal when he fires you calls you in

12-1:30 – Attorney recruiting to say: sign these, and here are some non-profits that are hiring

1:30-4:30 – Carnese to escort you or tell you how to clean out your office

2:30-4:30 – Head of HR has a webinar scheduled. Nice way to address everyone if you don’t want all the fired people sitting together and rioting.

We’ll be keeping our ears (and inbox) open to see what happens there. If you have additional information, e-mail us.

Things are a bit tense in D.C. as well. An associate there writes:

Don’t know what you’re hearing, but its getting chilly in the D.C. office. Apparently, 4 associates at least were whacked in the last week, with rumors of more to come. Nothing compared to Latham et. al, but bad omens abound. Not sure about the other three, but one of the whacked associates was widely respected, very smart, and on the verge of partnership (non-share)…

Last week, many Kirkland commenters were adamant about all being well at the firm. Is that still the case?

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Earlier: Layoffs and Delayed Start Dates at Kirkland?

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