“Sophisticated clients” and “million-dollar deals”: This Knight in shining armor is galloping its way through all the major legal markets in the US.
Holland & Knight Lateral Profile 2025
“The culture is the strongest part of the firm,” one junior told us, “You can tell what it’s like just from interviewing, you get a vibe.” The work also speaks for itself, with Chambers USA knighting H&K with top-tier titles in banking and finance, energy and natural resources, appellate litigation, general commercial litigation, securities litigation and tax in the firm’s home state of Florida. That’s as well as top-ranked practices in banking and finance, bankruptcy/restructuring, construction, corporate M&A, environment, healthcare, intellectual property, labor and employment, general commercial litigation and real estate in Tennessee, real estate in Texas, and offshore energy, NTSB and road transportation nationwide.
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…
“It has a robust energy and environmental practices, and it pitched itself as a place where associates had the freedom to craft a niche career. I got along with the other summer associates in my class and those at the firm promised to work with me to develop my own career goals.”
“HK provides clear expectations and guidelines for upward mobility as well as ownership over your practice and the types of projects you get to work on.”
“Well-known and respected practice group and attorneys. Our team is inclusive and great to work with.”
Strategic Recruitment Focuses 2025
Careers at Holland & Knight
The view from the firm: Holland & Knight has been advising clients for more than 130 years and has approximately 2,200 lawyers across the U.S. and in five international offices. Holland & Knight services clients globally in a variety of areas, including commercial litigation, regulatory matters, mergers and acquisitions, healthcare, real estate, and government advocacy, just to name a few. The firm provides client centric services over a wide range of industries that include Energy & Natural Resources, Real Estate and Hospitality, Finance & Financial Services, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Technology & Telecommunications and Transportation & Infrastructure. Collaboration across practices, offices and industries, along with highly focused matter and case management, enables the firm to deliver dynamic legal services irrespective of location.
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
42 |
0.6 : 1 |
84% |
||
|
partners made in 2024 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
61% |
84% |
70% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with childcare/caregiver responsibilities | felt partnership was achievable at the firm | agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
The view from the firm: We seek to further develop an organization and a culture where all talented individuals can have a path to long-term success and feel that they are an integral part of an already collaborative team. We maintain a commitment to mentoring and feedback for all members of our team, and we complement that with personalized career planning and extensive learning opportunities for attorneys at all levels. With input and guidance from the practice group leader, mentor, an internal career coach as well as others, attorneys establish individualized short and long-term goal plans. Our global presence provides a wealth of sophisticated, cutting-edge work, and our reputation and marketing are invaluable tools for attorneys working to build a strong client base. The HK Institute also serves as the firm's global learning network, providing training for Holland & Knight attorneys and clients, including continuing legal education approved by state accredited agencies. All these programs and initiatives begin on day one and continue throughout the attorney's tenure.
Hours & Compensation
|
2,000 |
14 |
50.7 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
67% |
65% |
78% |
| agreed they had a good work-life balance |
felt like they could take vacation/annual leave on their own terms |
found the firm's claims around bonus allocation to be authentic |
Salaries
1st year: $225,000
2nd year: $235,000
3rd year: $260,000
4th year: $310,000
5th year: $365,000
6th year: $390,000
7th year: $420,000
8th year: $435,000
The view from the firm: Associate base salary (excluding bonuses) is determined by a set lock-step system (same base salary for each class year). Attorneys may receive billable hour credit for qualifying diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as pro bono related activities.
Is Holland & Knight the right firm for you?
|
75% |
75% |
71% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work they received was of the right quality |
felt that they chose the right firm |
The view from the firm: Holland & Knight seeks students of substance with superior academics, leadership skills, involvement in extracurricular activities and demonstrated commitment to their communities. We look for candidates who have the desire and ethical foundation to be significant lawyers in the firm, in the profession and in the community. We have been very successful in hiring students who meet these criteria, and as a result, our firm as a whole reflects these characteristics.
Here's what survey respondents had to say about the firm's culture...
“Holland & Knight truly cares about its associates. I chose to work at HK because the work is challenging and intellectually stimulating, and the partners work collaboratively to allow me to grow.”
“H&K has great people with unique practice areas of interest; it’s a large supportive firm with small, welcoming, and inclusive offices. There are also great mentorship and growth opportunities.”
“It strikes a balance of being BigLaw environment with commitment to mentorship.”
Pro Bono
|
33 |
88% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm puts effort towards its commitment to pro bono and social impact activity |
Pro bono highlights: Afghan Refugee Resettlement – various organizations , including HIAS (assisting with securing visas or grants of asylum for individuals forced out of Afghanistan); Assistance to veterans and military families – various organizations including ABA Military Pro Bono Project (providing legal assistance to veterans and their families as well as active-duty military on matters ranging from benefits and service upgrades to civil disputes and domestic relations); Public defender reform initiative – working with Oregon Public Defender, ABA, and other organizations (litigation and lobbying work on efforts to update standards applicable to public defenders and to increase resources for public defenders nationwide); Dallas County Expunction Project (working with clients to expunge criminal records).
Sustainability & CSR
The view from the firm: H&K actively engages in industry leadership and advocacy, such as participating in Climate Week NYC and the Texas Environmental Superconference, where our attorneys contribute to discussions on climate-related disclosures and ESG regulations. Additionally, our firm is a founding member of the "Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy", through which we have pledged significant resources toward climate action. Our attorneys have also played a key role in advancing climate-focused legal work through the American Bar Association (ABA), including a resolution urging attorneys to engage in pro bono work related to climate change in 2019.
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