Kirkland & Ellis: Not Just Great Lawyers, But Fine Concierges, Too
Although the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis is having some issues — e.g., layoffs in Chicago, New York, Washington, and San Francisco — the firm still has a well-deserved reputation for excellence. When you’re involved in a must-win litigation or a major bankruptcy matter, K&E is the firm to see.
But are Kirkland & Ellis lawyers also the people to call when you need a table at a hot restaurant, or last-minute tickets to a sold-out show? Maybe so:
From: [A secretary to a senior partner in Chicago]
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 2:19 PM
To: All Chicago attorneysJustice Ginsburg’s granddaughter is having her 19th birthday on October 3rd and wants to celebrate with 5 friends at her favorite restauraunt — Topolobampo. Unfortunately, they are booked solid on that date. Does anyone know Rick Bayless (the owner of Topolobampo and Frontera Grill) who could possibly make a table available for her.
Topolobampo — good choice! When we did our series of open threads on summer associate lunch suggestions, back in 2008 — when law firms still had summer lunch programs — Topolobampo was mentioned frequently and favorably in the Chicago thread.
So, were the K&E concierges able to come through for the Supreme Grandchild?
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Less than 24 hours after the original email, this message went around:
From: [A secretary to a senior partner]
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 1:34 PM
To: All Chicago attorneysVery much appreciate all the emails and calls in response to my email below. Justices Ginsburg’s grandaughter will celebrate her 19th birthday at Toplolobampo thanks to you.
Kirkland & Ellis: A Law Firm Serving Global Clients. And the grandkids of Supreme Court justices, too!
What’s the connection between RBG’s granddaughter and Kirkland & Ellis? Was she perhaps a summer intern at the firm?
As it turns out, there really is no such connection. It just so happens that a member of the Ginsburg family is a personal friend of a senior Kirkland partner, whose secretary passed along the request.
For the record, the reservation request did not come from Justice Ginsburg or her chambers — so don’t waste your time seeking an RBG recusal in K&E cases. And even if the request had come from her chambers, which it did not, fulfilling it is certainly less of a big deal than a duck hunting trip.
Early birthday wishes to Justice Ginsburg’s granddaughter! If you have an extra spot at your table on October 3, let us know.
UPDATE (4:05 PM): A source points out to us that Marty Ginsburg, the noted tax lawyer and law professor (and husband of Justice Ginsburg), co-authors a corporate tax treatise with Jack Levin, a senior partner at K&E. It would seem like a natural thing for one co-author to help another (or another’s relative).