Biglaw Book of Business

Latest Episodes:

James Grandolfo from Milbank Tweed - Episode 7 Nov 14, 2018

Show notes

Jim Grandolfo leads the Hong Kong office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, where he specializes in capital markets, M&A, and private equity transactions. Based out of Hong Kong since 2000, he intimately understands the Asia legal market. Jim shares unique insights into dealmaking across Asia and expert knowledge he has gained over the years.

Biglaw Book of Business features veteran legal recruiter Robert Kinney, Founder and President of Kinney Recruiting, and David Lat, Editor at Large and Founder of Above the Law. In each episode, these two experts on the world of Biglaw and elite boutiques discuss recent notable lateral moves, take an in-depth look at a specific legal market, and offer advice for current and aspiring partners at leading law firms.

Links and Resources from this Episode

https://abovethelaw.com
http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
Email David at dlat@abovethelaw.com
Email Robert at robert@kinneyrecruiting.com
https://www.milbank.com/en/professionals/james-grandolfo.html

Episode Highlights

How Jim became introduced to Hong Kong and the Asia legal market.
The types of deals and countries where he and his colleagues focus.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Asia market.
How Jim built a practice, and the relationships he focused on.
Challenges a lawyer faces while working in various marketplaces across the globe.
The difference between confidence and arrogance.

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Mario Leissner from King & Spalding - Episode 6 Nov 05, 2018

Show notes

Mario Leissner is the founder and Managing Partner of the Frankfurt office of King & Spalding. Together Mario, Robert and David talk about the importance of firm culture and how it attracts talent, and what Mario has done to establish high standards (and rates).

Links and Resources from this Episode

https://abovethelaw.com
http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
Email David at dlat@abovethelaw.com
Email Robert at robert@kinneyrecruiting.com
https://www.kslaw.com/people/Mario-Leissner

Episode Highlights

The importance of law firm culture and how it attracts top talent.
How Mario started his career as a lawyer.
Strengths and weaknesses of the German legal market.
What King & Spalding has done to establish high standards (and high standard rates).
Mario’s view on the German government and the strength of its economy.
Strategies for retaining and keeping clients.

Review, Subscribe and Share

If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here.

Make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes.

Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
Follow on Spotify
Subscribe with Stitcher
Subscribe with RSS

New Offices, New Frontiers - Episode 5 Aug 08, 2018

Show notes

David and Robert discuss the considerations around launching a new office, the growing Asia legal market, and travel tips.

Links and Resources from this Episode

https://abovethelaw.com
http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
Email David at dlat@abovethelaw.com
Email Robert at robert@kinneyrecruiting.com

Episode Highlights

1st Topic: 12 attorneys leaving Reed Smith to start a Philadelphia office for Holland & Knight - 1:37
Starting a new office for a different firm - 1:59
Good and bad reasons for opening a new office - 4:34
2nd Topic: Market snapshot - Asia - 8:49
Robert talks about his visit to Asia - 9:16
Discussion of the Seoul legal market - 10:24
Discussion of the Hong Kong legal market - 14:46
3rd Topic: Travel tips - 19:40
Finding an airline that works for you - 21:13
A useful navigation app for traveling in Asia - 22:53

Review, Subscribe and Share

If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here.

Make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes.

Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
Follow on Spotify
Subscribe with Stitcher
Subscribe with RSS

Robert Rabalais from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett - Episode 4 Jun 01, 2018

Show notes

Special guest Robert René Rabalais, partner with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in Houston, speaks with Robert Kinney and David Lat about Simpson's entry into Houston, the Houston legal market in general, and business development for lawyers.

Links and Resources from this Episode

https://abovethelaw.com
http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
Email David at dlat@abovethelaw.com
Email Robert at robert@kinneyrecruiting.com

Episode Highlights

Simpson & Thacher’s growth in the Houston market.
What initially brought Simpson into the Houston market.
Snapshot of the Houston legal market.
Current state of the market in Texas.
Robert Rabalais’s approach and philosophy to business development.
Business development changes Robert has seen over the decades.

Review, Subscribe and Share

If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here.

Make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes.

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Follow on Spotify
Subscribe with Stitcher
Subscribe with RSS

The Rapid Expansion of Kirkland & Ellis - Episode 3 May 02, 2018

Show notes

Robert and David talk about the rapid expansion of Kirkland & Ellis and why Kirkland is thriving so much these days. They also address the London market and share career advice for partners that want to leave their firms on good terms.

Links and Resources from this Episode

https://abovethelaw.com
http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
Email David at dlat@abovethelaw.com
Email Robert at robert@kinneyrecruiting.com

Episode Highlights

Why Kirkland is thriving so much these days
Understanding Kirkland’s compensation system
Market snapshot of London
Career advice - How partners can leave their firms on good terms.

Review, Subscribe and Share

If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here.

Make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes.

Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
Follow on Spotify
Subscribe with Stitcher
Subscribe with RSS

Winston & Strawn’s Impressive Expansion in Energy Law - Episode 2 Mar 08, 2018

Show notes

David and Robert discuss Winston & Strawn’s aggressive and impressive strategy to build its energy-law practice; conduct a market snapshot for Northern California, both San Francisco and Silicon Valley; and offer advice to lawyers on saying no gracefully and keeping their options open.

Links and Resources from this Episode

https://abovethelaw.com
http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
Email David at dlat@abovethelaw.com
Email Robert at robert@kinneyrecruiting.com

Episode Highlights

The different types of energy law Winston is practicing
Where people are coming from to join Winston
How the rise of renewables is affecting the energy market cycles
Other players in the energy law marketplace
Market snapshot of Silicon Valley and San Francisco
The lateral partner market in Northern California
Career advice - Saying “no” and keeping your options open
Why ghosting doesn’t work in the law firm context

Review, Subscribe and Share

If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here.

Make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes.

Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
Subscribe with Stitcher
Subscribe with RSS

The Merger Between Andrews Kurth and Hunton & Williams - Episode 1 Mar 01, 2018

Show notes

In this inaugural episode, David and Robert discuss lateral moves related to the merger between Andrews Kurth and Hunton & Williams; conduct a market snapshot of New York, the biggest Biglaw market; and offer advice to lawyers on negotiating lateral offers. Biglaw Book of Business features veteran legal recruiter Robert Kinney, Founder and President of Kinney Recruiting, and David Lat, Editor at Large and Founder of Above the Law. In each episode, these two experts on the world of Biglaw and elite boutiques discuss recent notable lateral moves, take an in-depth look at a specific legal market, and offer advice for current and aspiring partners at leading law firms.

Links and Resources from this Episode