The Kirkland Exodus Is Picking Up Steam

Kirkland & Ellis — the nation’s richest Biglaw firm — made headlines earlier this month when it was revealed that rather than stand up for the rule of law, the firm would capitulate to the mere threat of punitive action from Donald Trump. So the firm sold out their DEI programs and offered up $100 million in pro bono payola to avoid one of Trump’s likely unconstitutional Executive Orders designed to break major law firms.

To quote Billie Eilish, that shit’s embarrassing.

The Kirkland Exodus (which would be a great metal band name, imo) continues, with three more associates joining the growing list of folks quitting their jobs to avoid the stain of their firm’s cowardice rubbing off on them.

Maggie Hagen’s missive on LinkedIn worried about the troubling precedent Kirkland’s deal sets and its impact on clients: “I could not support the Firm’s decision to comply with the current administration’s demands, including providing free legal services to government-selected causes and submitting to outside audits of its diversity practices. To me, these actions set a troubling precedent. When law firms yield to political pressure, it compromises the independence of our profession and threatens our ability to zealously advocate for our clients.”

On LinkedIn, Kevin Decker’s post framed Trump’s bullying of Kirkland as part of a larger problem, “I am disappointed by the decision of the world’s most powerful and successful law firm not to fight back against this unlawful incursion, especially when other firms are already doing so successfully. This is part of a larger attack on the rule of law, along with efforts to nullify constitutional protections of due process, birthright citizenship, presidential term limits, and more. There is a tremendous opportunity for lawyers to oppose these threats, and I am inspired by the countless folks who have long been doing so.”

Harold Grigsby III posted on LinkedIn about taking the firm’s capitulation personally, “As a Black man, I view the current attacks on DEI initiatives as deeply personal. While DEI programs do not exclusively serve Black individuals, this administration has deliberately conflated Blackness with DEI, weaponizing it as coded language to create division. This is not the first time we have seen the Black community marketed as the face of social policies (i.e. affirmative action and or welfare) despite evidence showing broader societal impacts and beneficiaries.” Grigsby also pointed out how the firm has sold out its core values with the deal, “Kirkland’s diversity and pro bono work led me to the firm, and its deviation from these commitments has led to my exit.”

Best of luck to Hagen, Decker, and Grigsby as they embark on their job search.

Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.

The post The Kirkland Exodus Is Picking Up Steam appeared first on Above the Law.