The Silence of the Partners

Tom Borman, LawFuel contributing editor

Kirkland & Ellis, the world’s top-grossing law firm, is playing it close to the vest again, this time with its new partner class. Being loud does not pay like discretion, apparently.

As reported by AboveTheLaw, the firm has yet to formally announce or publicly list its 2025 promotions. No splashy LinkedIn posts. No press release. No internal leaks. Nothing.

But why the silence from a firm that makes more in profits per equity partner than most hedge funds?

Here are a few likely reasons behind the discretion of Kirkland & Ellis – after all, we can only speculate in the face of silence.

1. Power Dynamics, Not PR

At Kirkland, making partner isn’t a ceremonial event — it’s a transaction. One that comes with serious strings, often including multi-year performance targets, capital contributions, and tight golden handcuffs. Publicizing new partners risks turning what’s essentially a private financial arrangement into a public HR story. And Kirkland doesn’t do HR stories.

2. Internal Messaging Control

Kirkland is famously hierarchical. By keeping the names under wraps, the firm avoids triggering internal questions from those who didn’t make the cut. It lets leadership manage internal narratives quietly and on their own terms but it’s not always easy, given the lateral exodus from the firm that we have seen.

3. Retention and Lateral Movement

Publicizing a partner’s promotion gives competitors a shopping list. By staying silent, Kirkland avoids dangling new partner names in front of rival firms or recruiters. Think of it as preemptive lateral defense.

4. Not All “Partners” Are Created Equal

Let’s be honest: at Kirkland, “partner” could mean anything from rising star to income-capped project manager. Announcing every new partner might open the door to uncomfortable comparisons, particularly when compensation and equity stakes vary widely as it does with Kirklands.

5. Prestige Signaling Through Absence

When you’re Kirkland, silence is a signal. The firm knows its mystique grows with each non-announcement. In the elite legal world, opacity isn’t just tolerated — it’s respected.

So is it surprising Kirkland isn’t crowing about its latest partner class? Not at all.

The firm’s business model isn’t built on transparency but is built on control. And when you’re sitting on $7B+ in annual revenue, control is the only flex that matters. Kirkland show that every time.