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Layoffs at Kirkland & Ellis, the World’s Wealthiest Law Firm

October 29, 2020

Above the Law posted on October 26 that Kirkland & Ellis has quietly been conducting layoffs.

Even for a firm with more than 1,000 partners, Kirkland has lost an unusually high number of them (54) in 2020. The firm was the first to refuse to offer special fall bonuses to associates, which begged the question of why K&E was unwilling to share the wealth in a supposedly banner year.

During COVID, several firms have let staff go to through outright layoffs — sometimes to rightsize (what a great way not to say that you need to get rid of employees) their ranks or to adjust to the different requirements of working remotely.

Apparently, a number of insiders have reached out to Above the Law to let them know that support staff at Kirkland & Ellis are being quietly laid off.

The post contains quotes from a number of people with inside information. Apparently, only support staff had been laid off – legal assistant, paralegals, IT personnel, legal secretaries, etc. More layoffs are reportedly expected by the end of the year.

Sources told Above the Law that they will receive assistance with COBRA payments from the firm as well as generous severance packages, but their separation agreements reportedly state that the severance pay will be withheld if they discuss the reason for their departure with anyone.

Yes, that classifies as layoffs on the down low. Above the Law has asked the firm several times for a statement but has not heard back.

Insert in Gomer Pyle's voice, "Surprise, surprise, surprise."

Sharon D. Nelson, Esq., President, Sensei Enterprises, Inc.
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