This leanly staffed New York litigation powerhouse demands associates keep their witz about them from the outset...
Kasowitz Lateral Profile 2024
It’s not often you’ll hear BigLaw and boutique in the same sentence, but Kasowitz is a rare exception. This Big Apple native is a litigation stalwart, and as co-managing partner Shemmy Mishaan puts it, it's “a place where people can come to litigate anything.” The firm’s aggressive reputation is reflected in its flexible approach to practice, because while other firms can be constrained due to their significant corporate and M&A practices, Mishaan adds that “we can be involved on either side of a lot of big matters, that can be difficult for other firms…” Associates were clearly paying attention to all of this when making their choices, as one shared that “I didn’t want somewhere bottom of the barrel!”
View the firm’s Chambers USA rankings
Read the firm’s Inside View feature on junior associate life
Why did you join your firm?
Associates say…
“Everyone is extremely supportive and kind. Above all I think there is a vibe of respect and equality toward all staff. There is definitely a lack of hierarchy which makes me feel more included in the firm.”
“How real people were. There’s no BS here.”
“More diversity compared to other BigLaw firms... There is less hierarchy between partners and associates as far as accessibility and being able to communicate with them.”
Strategic Recruitment Focuses 2024
Commercial litigation careers
The view from the firm: Kasowitz’s core focus is commercial litigation. We are known for our creative, aggressive litigators and willingness to take on tough cases. We outthink and outflank our opponents, and understand how to win for our clients. We have extensive trial experience and are always trial-ready, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in every area of litigation.
Commercial litigation clients: Gilimex, Lubrizol, National Grid, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Symrise.
Recent work highlight: Represented Alaskan Reefer Management and Kloosterboer International Forwarding, shippers of frozen fish from Alaska, securing a global settlement of the fines in exchange for a payment of $9.5 million, or less than one-half of one percent of the clients’ exposure.
Antitrust litigation careers
The view from the firm: Kasowitz represents clients, as plaintiffs or defendants, in antitrust cases involving price-fixing, bid-rigging, tying, exclusive dealing, conspiracies, attempts to monopolize, and monopolization. Our antitrust litigation experience spans a wide range of industries, including automotive, shipping, chemicals, agricultural and processed foods, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and publishing.
Antitrust litigation clients: Comcast; Ford Motor Company; Major League Wrestling.
Recent work highlight: Represented Ford Motor Company in obtaining affirmative recoveries in connection with price-fixing, bid-rigging and customer allocation cartels involving more than 90 automotive parts suppliers, and impacted purchases in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
Employment litigation careers
The view from the firm: Kasowitz’s employment practices and litigation group is comprised of trial-seasoned former prosecutors and other talented litigators. We have significant experience in all areas of employment litigation, including discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims; enforcement and defense of non-competition agreements, confidentiality agreements, and breaches of fiduciary duty; wage and hour issues; and disputes under executive employment, consulting and severance agreements.
Employment litigation clients: Douglas Elliman, Elie Tahari, Kindbody, XPO Logistics.
Recent work highlight: Representing CareOne, a network of over 50 skilled nursing and assisted living facilities primarily located in New Jersey and Massachusetts, in virtually all of its employment-related litigations.
Real estate litigation careers
The view from the firm: Kasowitz has successfully handled a wide variety of real estate and hotel-related litigation matters, including partnership and joint venture disputes, contract disputes, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud claims, air rights and development rights disputes, investigations, foreclosures, workouts and other restructurings. We regularly represent developers, real estate investment trusts (REITs), borrowers, lenders, institutional and individual investors, majority and minority partners, and hotel owners, operators, and managers.
Real estate clients: Cottonwood, IHG (InterContinental Hotel Group), Hudson Realty Capital, Maverick Real Estate Partners.
Recent work highlight: Kasowitz represented SL Green Realty, New York City’s largest owner of office real estate, in winning a $185 million arbitration award against HNA Group (International) Company Limited, part of Chinese conglomerate HNA Group, relating to SL Green’s $148 million equity investment in 245 Park Avenue, a marquee office tower in New York City.
White collar defense & investigations careers
The view from the firm: Kasowitz has had decades of success defending corporations and individuals in regulatory and criminal matters. Our attorneys include a former U.S. senator, a former U.S. Attorney, numerous former U.S. and District Attorneys and two former state attorneys general. We have experience in every facet of government investigations, including counseling companies and individuals on appropriate ways to stave off investigations through proactive disclosures or respond to subpoenas issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice, state attorneys general and other government agencies. We also lead internal investigations on behalf of public entities, private institutions, corporations, boards of directors and special committees concerning suspected corporate malfeasance including insider trading, fraud, trade secret theft, market timing, market manipulation and obstruction of justice.
White collar defense & investigations clients: Pilgrim’s Pride, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and numerous other confidential clients.
Recent work highlight: Represented Pilgrim’s Pride, one of the nation’s largest chicken producers, in resolving criminal claims relating to the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division’s high-profile investigation into alleged price fixing in the poultry industry.
Structured finance litigation careers
The view from the firm: Kasowitz has decades of experience representing investment funds in numerous litigations, negotiations and potential disputes involving securitizations and other structured finance products. We regularly advise activist investors on complex and fast-moving investment situations, with a focus on strategic counseling and how best to position the fund for success. We also have a strong “opt-out” class action practice, and represent a number of hedge funds and other investment managers in direct actions to recover investment losses.
Structured finance litigation clients: BlueMountain, Bridgewater, Centerbridge Partners.
Recent work highlight: Secured summary judgment on Cascade’s breach of contract claim against The Bancorp Bank in connection with Cascade’s planned purchase from Bancorp of a pool of $900 million in mortgage loan assets, to be funded through a securitization of those assets.
Bankruptcy litigation & restructuring careers
The view from the firm: Kasowitz’s bankruptcy litigation and restructuring team has extensive experience representing parties in out-of-court workouts, restructurings, insolvency and bankruptcy litigation, and all related and attendant state and federal court litigations. Our clients include private equity firms, hedge funds, companies, bondholders, lenders, and official and ad hoc committees having a wide range of interests in all aspects and at all levels of an enterprise’s capital structure in distressed situations.
Bankruptcy litigation & restructuring clients: Represented committees, trustees or other interest holders in the restructuring or bankruptcies of J. Crew; Toys “R” Us; Puerto Rico.
Recent work highlight: Represented MDC Energy in an agreement with its creditors to resolve the creditors’ motions in MDC Energy’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
undisclosed |
1.67 : 1 |
67% |
||
|
partners made in 2023 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
83% |
60% |
91% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with children | felt partnership was achievable at the firm | agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
The view from the firm: Kasowitz provides a variety of resources and opportunities that support the professional development and success of our lawyers, including “KU,” our first-year associate training curriculum; internal CLE programs; Practicing Law Institute (PLI); and Hotshot. Affinity groups facilitate relationship and career building among attorneys with shared interests and backgrounds. Formal mentoring programs assist with integration and provide new hires with guidance and support throughout their first year at the firm. Annual performance reviews offer the opportunity to discuss career advancement, assignments, and key milestones. Underrepresented attorneys may also participate in leadership development programs, conferences, and networking receptions offered by various legal organizations.
Hours & Compensation
|
no requirement |
9 |
50.5 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
56% |
45% |
72% |
| agreed they had a good work-life balance |
said the benefits package makes the workload worthwhile |
found the bonus allocation fair and transparent |
Salaries
1st year: $215,000
2nd year: $225,000
3rd year: $250,000
4th year: $295,000
5th year: $345,000
6th year: $370,000
7th year: $400,000
8th year: $415,000
The view from the firm: Calculations of bonuses for individual associates in each class year are based on hours worked and performance evaluations. All billable, pro bono, new business development, new matters in process, recruiting, Kasowitz University/training, CLE hours, Firm Committee participation hours recorded are included in the review process.
In order to be eligible for these merit-based bonuses, an associate or counsel must be in good standing as of the date that the bonus is distributed, and must have performed at a level of quality expected for their class year.
Attorneys are to be in the office at least on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week.
Is Kasowitz the right firm for you?
|
94% |
97% |
74% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work was interesting |
felt comfortable being themselves at work |
The view from the firm: We seek applicants from all backgrounds with a demonstrated interest in litigation who want to assume significant responsibility early in their careers. As a litigation firm, we look for candidates who are creative, independent thinkers and who are intellectually curious with the drive and motivation to litigate in and out of the courtroom. We require the highest level of academic achievement, writing ability and prior work/leadership experience. Judicial Clerkships, Law Review, Moot Court and Trial Advocacy are looked upon favorably. Candidates should possess outstanding judgment, strong character and exceptional interpersonal skills.
Here's what survey respondents had to say about the firm's culture...
“There is not an attorney at the firm whose office I am uncomfortable walking into or with whom I am uncomfortable having a conversation with. Everyone is friendly and takes an active interest in both your work and your personal life/development.”
“The firm tries as a whole to maximize the value of being a relatively smaller Big Law firm and get people to meet and get to know one another to build and foster relationships amongst everyone at the firm.”
“There’s an emphasis on respect, and people are genuine, tolerant, and quirky!”
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
|
73% |
22% |
24% |
||
|
reported diverse staffing on teams/cases/matters |
of partners are women |
identify as ethnically diverse |
||
Pro Bono
|
49.34 |
97% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm is committed to pro bono |
Pro bono highlights: Hafner v State of Florida (reproductive rights); Secured a settlement of federal human trafficking and New York Labor Law claims against a New York-based homeopathic medicine company and its proprietors; Obtained an immigration court order granting asylum to a transgender woman from Guatemala who had been subjected to repeated persecution; Together with Disability Rights New York and Mental Hygiene Legal Services, represents a putative class of plaintiffs with developmental disabilities in an action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and their respective commissioners.
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: Mindy Lindenman, Chief Legal Recruitment Officer
(212) 506-1918
mlindenman@kasowitz.com