Overall partner promotions shrink slightly, including for BigLaw firm that promoted 200 lawyers
A slightly lower number of partner promotions this year by Kirkland & Ellis is in keeping with the trend; new-partner class sizes in BigLaw have decreased an average of 4% this year, based on partnership announcements so far. (Image from Shutterstock)
Kirkland & Ellis promoted 200 lawyers to partner this year, the most of any top 100 law firm that had announced their promotions by Nov. 25.
The number was nonetheless slightly lower than last year, when Kirkland promoted 205 lawyers to partner, Law.com reports. The decreasing number is in keeping with the trend; new-partner class sizes in BigLaw decreased an average of 4% this year, based on partnership announcements so far, the article reports.
The smaller class sizes this year follow a decline of 2% in new-partner class sizes in 2023, according to the article.
Law.com based its findings on an analysis of 22 partner promotion announcements by firms that are among the nation’s top 100 firms based on gross income.
Bloomberg Law links Kirkland’s larger partner class with its pursuit of mergers and acquisitions and private equity work. Kirkland’s deal count increased an average of 8.5% each year from 2014 until last year.
Other profitable firms with large partner classes included McDermott Will & Emery, with 43 new partners, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, with 44 new partners, according to Law.com. Both promoted “roughly as many partners in 2024” as in 2023, the article reports.
