"Kirkland & Ellis is recognized as one of the nation's greatest law firms. Not only does the firm offer a compelling combination of prestige, profitability, and pay, but it usually shatters the market on partners in a huge way - but not this year. In 2025, the firm has decided to stay quiet about something Biglaw firms usually love to shout from the rooftops. As Law.com reports, the Chicago-based powerhouse won't be publicly releasing its annual partner class announcement, "marking [a] strategy shift.""
"The firm's decision isn't humility. It's a blunder. The firm's silence isn't modesty. It's a mistake. For a firm that built its brand on transparency in all things business, it's more than a little embarrassing. And worse yet, this is cruel to the people who earned a partnership ring - be it equity or nonequity - at the world's top firm."
"Among the 200 names announced in 2024, at least 20 lawyers, or 10%, were not on the firm's website this week, according to a Law.com analysis. Several have left in the last year to work at other law firms or join corporate legal departments. Among the 205 names announced in 2023 as new partners, at least 43, or 21%, are no longer on the website."
Kirkland & Ellis withheld its 2025 partner class announcement, breaking its pattern of publicizing large partner cohorts. The firm combines prestige, profitability and high pay and historically publicized substantial partner promotions. The decision to stay quiet is described as a blunder and an embarrassing break from business transparency. The silence harms lawyers who earned partnership, both equity and nonequity. Many newly minted nonequity partners have left shortly after being named, attracting negative attention. In 2024, at least 20 of 200 partners (10%) were no longer on the firm's website; in 2023, at least 43 of 205 (21%) were gone. The firm declined to name the 2025 class to avoid headlines about departures.
Read at Above the Law
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