Kirkland and Ellis International LLP

The Firm

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 1500 lawyers representing global clients in complex corporate, restructuring, finance, litigation, intellectual property and competition matters.

Kirkland is ranked in the top 10 of the global 100 (Legal Business 2011) and based in the heart of the city in the iconic Gherkin building, our London office - compromising around 120 lawyers - acts in some of the most complex high value and high profile transactions in Europe.

Types Of Work

Although we are renowned for our private equity work in London, we are also active in restructurings, capital markets, private funds, debt finance, taxation, international arbitration, intellectual property and competition law and our client list is more than a match for many larger City firms.

Private Equity - Our London office acts on behalf of financial sponsors and private equity owners and has advised on some of Europe's largest leveraged buyouts. We also operate within international capital markets and securities regulation.

Funds - With more than 150 lawyers focused on private funds across several offices, Kirkland & Ellis is uniquely positioned to advise clients on private equity, real estate and hedge funds, and we regularly represent leading institutional investors regarding their investments in private funds.

Capital Markets - We represent issuers and underwriters in a broad range of securities offerings. By drawing on the multiple areas of expertise within the firm, we can efficiently handle corporate affairs, commercial lending, taxation, securities litigation, environmental issues, IP and property marshalling deals from inception to closure.

Debt Finance - For major financial transactions across Europe, borrowers, lenders and insurers turn to us for reliable and specialist advice. Our London office concentrates particularly on acquisition finance, debt restructuring, capital markets, high-yield issuance and syndicated lending.

Restructuring - We enjoy an ever-growing reputation for multi-jurisdictional restructurings and insolvency proceedings, especially planning and strategies for cross-border deals. Our client list features shareholders, directors, creditors, debtors, turnaround advisors and insolvency agents.

Tax - Every year we operate at the centre of numerous complex domestic and international transactions. The team acts on corporate mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, debt and equity financings, as well as fund formation.

International Litigation and Arbitration - Around the world, multinational corporations, governments and subsidiaries seek our help in international litigation and arbitration cases. Partners at our London office are qualified to carry out investigations into white collar crime at a global level.

Intellectual Property - We handle patent litigation matters for unfair competition, trademark and copyright disputes. The team manages IP transactions on behalf of some of the world's largest companies, from transferring and commercialising new technologies to purchasing product lines.

Antitrust and Competition - Our London office advises clients across a range of industries on all aspects of EU and UK competition law. Our specialist knowledge includes merger control, market dominance and cartel investigations, as well as sector inquiries and antitrust legislation.

The Way We Work

Our philosophy is based around several key principles: To provide the highest quality legal services, to become true partners to our clients in their ongoing success, and to recruit the best and brightest legal talent in the market.

We delegate responsibility on a merit-based system, allowing our trainees to grow their workload along with their abilities. Almost from day one, our trainees gain hands-on experience of interacting with clients, drafting documents and attending court. We also encourage them to choose their own path of specialism on their journey through the firm. Freedom and fairness of opportunity helps our colleagues stay motivated and team-focused workers.

It goes without saying, we do not expect you to be an expert from day one. Although much of your learning will be on-the-job, our graduate programme includes training across a range of legal disciplines to turn you into a highly effective practitioner.

Because of the relatively intimate size of our London office, you will find yourself working shoulder to shoulder with partners and associates on most of your projects, learning directly from some of the leading names in their field.

To continue providing our clients with the quality legal services they expect means recruiting and training the right people and retaining their services by ensuring the work is stimulating, the atmosphere collaborative and the rewards tangible.

It is a formula proven by our status as a top 10 global law firm.

Training Contract

High-quality training is the hallmark of the graduate trainee programme at Kirkland & Ellis. For 2014 we are offering up to 10 training contracts.

Your two-year traineeship will begin with a fortnight-long induction, including the Professional Skills Course (PSC). Then, for the following two years of your training contract, you will rotate between four six-month placements.

In addition to a compulsory Corporate law seat, you will undertake three further seats, choosing from: Litigation/Arbitration, Restructuring, Debt Finance, Funds , Intellectual Property, Antitrust and Competition and Tax. Opportunities are also available to spend time on secondment at one of our overseas offices.

Throughout your training, you will benefit from an extensive seminar programme. This covers five primary practice areas in detail, building on skills learned on the LPC and introducing new topics.

You will also benefit from one-to-one guidance from senior associates and partners, and the support of a mentor, learning on the job from some of the leaders in their field.

Your training and development does not stop after your traineeship. We continue to invest in your professional development through regular lunchtime seminars and workshops.

Vacation Scheme

Combining real project work with study sessions and mentoring, our two-week vacation placements offer valuable insights into how our London office operates.

We are offering around twenty placements throughout June and July 2012.

You will sit alongside associates and shadow their work. You will be involved in real client work across different groups and attend practice overview sessions from all departments, designed to give you a flavour of life in that team.

You will also take part in a mock transaction that will challenge your negotiation skills and even includes a champagne closing celebration.
The vacation scheme will give you invaluable hands-on experience across a range of practice areas and just as importantly, you will come away with a crucial network of contacts made through a series of social events.

Vacation schemes are a vital part of the graduate recruitment process and we would strongly encourage those interested in the firm to apply for a vacation scheme before applying for a training contract.

Rewards & Benefits

You will find a career at Kirkland & Ellis rewarding for all sorts of reasons. A generous pay package where first year trainees start on £40,000, rising to £43,000 in the second year is just one of them.

We pay your GDL and LPC fees, and provide a £7,500 maintenance grant for each course. We also offer:

• Private medical insurance
• Private travel insurance
• Private life insurance
• Pension scheme
• Employee assistance plan
• Dental plan
• Access to a private medical clinic
• Discounted gym membership
• Business casual dress every day.

For further details on graduate opportunities at Kirkland & Ellis International LLP or to apply for a vacation scheme of training contract please visit http://ukgraduate.kirkland.com or contact us at lontrainerecruit@kirkland.com or on +44 20 7469 2000.