Aggressive with the opposition, but “very warm” to new additions – meet “litigation powerhouse” Kasowitz.
Kasowitz Lateral Profile 2023
The firm sits in a niche category of New York litigation firms, achieving a top ranking in the state from Chambers USA for general commercial litigation. It’s also top-ranked for real estate litigation and gets recognition for its antitrust practice.
View the firm’s Chambers USA rankings
Read the firm’s Inside View feature on junior associate life
Strategic Recruitment Focuses 2023
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. We are committed to pursuing aggressive and innovative approaches to our clients’ most challenging legal matters.
Commercial litigation clients: MBIA; National Grid; SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment; State of Hawaii
Recent work highlight: Represented MBIA in a put-back action against Credit Suisse in which MBIA sought to recover for breaches of representations and warranties related to RMBS insured by MBIA.
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 who leverage their employment litigation know-how and experience to achieve extraordinary results early in cases, or by taking the case through discovery to trial and verdict. 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
Recent work highlight: Represented Saw Mill Capital in defense of claims for carried interest and other compensation by a former partner.
Real estate litigation careers
The view from the firm: Kasowitz’s Real Estate Litigation team 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: BD Hotels; Beverly Hills Unified School District; InterContinental Hotel Group
Recent work highlight: Represented BD Hotels and Chelsea Hotel Owner LLC, owners of the iconic Hotel Chelsea, in successfully ending a two-year dispute with New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation Development prompted by tenants objecting to the redevelopment of the historic hotel.
White collar defense & investigations careers
The view from the firm: Kasowitz’s White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Group 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
Recent work highlight: Represented Pilgrim’s Pride 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; Waterfall Asset Management
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: We have represented committees, trustees or other interest holders in the restructuring or bankruptcies of Caesars; Toys “R” Us; Lehman.
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 |
1.5 : 1 |
38% |
||
|
partners made in 2022 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
73% |
55.6% |
86% |
||
| 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 |
9.2 |
51.9 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
57% |
71% |
54% |
| agreed they had a good work-life balance |
said the benefits package makes the workload worthwhile |
found the bonus allocation fair and transparent |
Salaries
*The firm does not disclose salaries.
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?
|
100% |
100% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work was interesting |
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.
We asked survey respondents what stands out about the firm’s culture?
“Everyone is laid back and very approachable. Also, there are not any unnecessary formalities or rigid hierarchies; you are valued based on your contributions regardless of seniority.”
“Creative lawyering and partners' / management's interest in cultivating and retaining talent, from initial hire through partnership.”
“The partners are friendly but direct, which is ideal.”
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
|
60% |
23% |
49% |
||
|
reported strong performance in inclusivity training |
of partners are women |
identify as ethnically diverse |
||
Pro Bono
|
40.6 |
100% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm is committed to pro bono |
Pro bono highlights: Sanctuary for Families; The Legal Aid Society; Her Justice; New York Lawyers for the Public Interest; Human Rights First; Immigration Equality; Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS); Veterans Advocacy Project (affiliated with the Urban Justice Center); Kids in Need of Defense (KIND); Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts; Southern District of New York Pro Se Office; and Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Association
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: Mindy Lindenman, chief legal recruitment officer, mlindenman@kasowitz.com