Kirkland & Ellis

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis draws trainees with its reputation for “market-leading work,” “prestigious clients,” and a focus on private equity. Many highlight the “small trainee cohort” and “unprecedented levels of responsibility” as major selling points, alongside the appeal of “fair compensation, transparent track to partnership and exposure to high levels of responsibility.” One trainee proudly summed it up: “K&E is the best at what it does and the entire apparatus is geared towards providing the best client service in the world.” The “staunchly meritocratic environment” and partnership prospects are frequently cited, with another noting, “Kirkland has some of the most prestigious clients in law, a partnership track that promotes more partners than any other law firm  and the prestige of being one of the most elite law firms in the world.” The training is described as “more intense” and “hands on,” with responsibility arriving quickly due to lean deal teams. “While Kirkland does have formal training sessions, much of the training is hands on, learning by doing,” said one trainee, adding that they were trusted with “work which would usually be reserved for associates in other firms.” Another reflected that “you are pushed harder but the reward for doing so is exponentially better than elsewhere,” with the accelerated professional development tempered by “helpful seniors” who provide guidance and pastoral support. For many, the overall difference is summed up simply: “higher level work, more responsibility, longer hours.” Supervisors are praised for being “friendly and approachable” despite their workloads, with associates and partners said to be “invested in your development” and generous with their time. Trainees also appreciate the “large amount of autonomy with who you work with and what you get involved in.” Downsides are unsurprising: “hours can be very long at times,” and “work-life balance varies from team to team.” For some, the heavy workload is the inevitable trade-off for “exposure to the best Private Equity clients.” Highlight moments include “getting to attend the Supreme Court,” “working on a multi-billion pound fundraise, drafting many of the key documents,” and enjoying a “stress-free qualification process.” Low points mostly come down to “consecutive late nights during a deal closing” and “working on weekends.” Pro bono is also available and encouraged, with “lots” of opportunities for trainees and associates alike. For those aiming to fast-track in private equity, gain high-level responsibility early, and thrive in a meritocratic, hands-on environment, Kirkland & Ellis might be the place for you.

A day in the life of... Gavin Griffith, second-year trainee, Kirkland & Ellis

Departments to date: Antitrust and competition; Corporate; Debt finance

University: Durham University

Degree: Economics

8.30am: On my way into work, I check my phone and sort through any emails that may have come in overnight, as well as checking my calendar for the day. I then confirm whether there is anything new that needs to be sent out as a priority early that morning. The nature of the deals that the firm works on means that parties involved tend to be located across multiple jurisdictions and time zones. As a result, you can sometimes wake up to several emails from foreign counsel or team members working in other time zones.

9.15 am: I arrive at the office and head to the café to grab breakfast (usually with some of the other trainees) before heading to my desk. I then start work for the morning, prioritising anything urgent that I need to work through.

This morning, I am focusing on preparing for the signing of a debt refinancing, in which we are representing a portfolio company borrower and their private equity sponsor. This particular task involves me drafting certain ancillary documents based on the new senior facilities agreement that is to be implemented, including corporate approvals for the borrower and various notices. To work through this efficiently, the first port of call is to ensure that the form of these ancillaries is appropriate, so an associate on the deal provides some precedent from the original financing for me to use before walking me through what the documents will need to include.

10.00am: The team for the debt refinancing workstream I’m on has a catch-up with lender counsel to work through some outstanding points. The team coordinates internally prior to this call so that we can streamline our discussion. After we finish up with lender counsel, I make updates to my to-do list and prioritise my workload. Each day varies hugely and is dependent on how quickly a deal is progressing and the stages of the transactions you are involved in.

I then check in with an associate on a different deal that I am working on (an acquisition financing), for which we have just received an update from our German antitrust team that regulatory clearance has been received. We decide how we will progress certain items so that we are in a position to fund ahead of the closing of the transaction.

11.30am: Having completed the drafting I started that morning and shared it with the associate on the deal, I turn next to a deal involving the finalising of the security package to be given to the lender on a separate deal that has recently closed. This particular process is something that trainees can become heavily involved with and take on responsibility for, liaising with local counsel in a variety of jurisdictions. I begin reviewing a checklist prepared by lender counsel for all the documents required for this matter.

1.00pm: I grab a quick lunch, as I have a call scheduled for 1.30 on the acquisition financing matter we are expecting to close soon, this time with the client.

1.30pm: I sit in on the call, as we update the client, informing them that the deal is progressing well and that things are likely to accelerate from next week onwards as the final regulatory clearances are obtained.

2.15pm: I email foreign counsel in various jurisdictions to request their input on various matters, for which they are advising us on the relevant local laws.

3.00pm: The associate on the refinancing deal has finished reviewing the ancillaries that I drafted this morning, and we have a catch-up on next steps. They ask if I would like to prepare the initial draft of an English law-governed debenture and some other documents I have not had any experience preparing so far.

At Kirkland, you are given lots of responsibility from an early stage. While this can be daunting, it means fantastic opportunities to practise running processes and to gain experience drafting more technical documents. I have been supported the whole time by my supervisor and the associate working on the deal, both of whom were always happy to answer any questions I had.

6.00pm: I have a quick catch-up with my supervisor, with whom I share an office. They ask if there are any other workstreams that I would like to get experience with so that I have a broader understanding of the work that the firm’s debt finance team is involved with. We agree that I will join a new acquisition financing they are working on which is currently at an early stage — a great opportunity to see the full lifecycle of this type of deal.

7.00pm: Having completed my first drafts of the required documents for the refinancing, I send a copy of them to the associate for their comments. I deal with some outstanding matters sitting with me and send out some further emails.

7.30pm: After updating my to-do list for the following day and ensuring there is nothing urgent sitting with me, I head out to dinner with some friends.

About the firm

The firm: With a global platform of approximately 4,000 lawyers in 22 cities across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Kirkland & Ellis provides elite legal advice and a relentless commitment to client service. Kirkland is a market leader in each of its core practice areas including private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. To learn more, please visit www.kirkland.com.

The clients: Advent International, Antin Infrastructure Partners, Apax, Apollo Global Management, Bain Capital Private Equity, BC Partners, Blackstone, Brookfield, CapVest, GIC, Hellman & Friedman, KKR, Montagu Private Equity, Nordic Capital, Starwood Capital Group, TA Associates, Thoma Bravo, TDR Capital, TPG, Vista Equity Partners, Warburg Pincus.

Other offices: Austin, Bay Area, Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Munich, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Riyadh, Salt Lake City, Shanghai and Washington DC.

Who we are: We are a leading global law firm that is focused on meritocracy and enabling our lawyers to become leading partners as early as possible in their careers. We encourage all of our lawyers to accelerate their growth by advising on complex transactions and being client-facing and business-focused.

What we do: We advise global clients, including holders of private capital, on their M&A and financing transactions, investment fund formations, restructuring and litigation matters.

What we’re looking for in a trainee: We hire trainees who are hardworking, motivated and focused on gaining as much experience as possible and want to become partners on an accelerated career path.

What you’ll do: Our trainees gain experience through active involvement in deals throughout their careers, together with extensive technical training.

Perks: Private medical insurance, life insurance, income protection, travel insurance, pension scheme, corporate fitness centre, BUPA health assessment, dental plan, GP consultation service, fertility and family forming, employee assistance programme, cycle to work scheme, free breakfast and lunch, back-up child/elder care, wellbeing apps, 25 days’ holiday, season ticket loan, business travel accident insurance, menopause plan, annual flu shots, eye care.

Sponsorship

We pay the fees for your PGDL course (if required) and the LLM in Legal Practice (including the SQE exams) and provide a competitive maintenance grant for the year(s) of study.

Seat options

Corporate; finance; investment funds; one other complementary practice area.

Tips from the recruiter

Read the application form carefully. Some applicants do not answer the specific questions being asked. This is perhaps because they haven’t taken their time when reading it, and/or because they have copied an answer from another application form which asks a similar question, but is in fact slightly different. Attention to detail is a really important skill to demonstrate.

Research the firm thoroughly before applying. There is a huge amount of information about the London office online, particularly on our graduate recruitment site. Pick up on our clients, the deals we’ve worked on and what lawyers are expected to do here. All firms in London offer something different, so you have to think about why you want to come here, and what you can offer through your previous experiences and achievements.

Use interviews to further demonstrate your understanding of the firm. Applicants aren’t expected to have strong legal knowledge at this stage, as we accept applications from both law and non-law backgrounds. However, showing some understanding of the private equity market is a good idea, given the firm’s focus on this and transactional work.