Kirkland & Ellis

Ranked #1 globally for private equity deal volume (Bloomberg) and #1 for M&A by value (LSEG), Kirkland & Ellis is the world's largest law firm by revenue. The firm's largest office is in Chicago, with major operations in New York, Washington, D.C., London, and Houston.

Kirkland dominates private equity, advising more PE sponsors on more deals than any other firm. The firm's leveraged finance, M&A, and restructuring practices are consistently ranked at the top of their respective league tables. Kirkland also has a major litigation practice, a leading intellectual property group, and growing strength in capital markets and tax.

Kirkland operates a free-market system for summer associates, meaning summers choose their own assignments rather than being placed into a fixed rotation. The culture is entrepreneurial and performance-driven — associates are given significant responsibility early. Kirkland's summer class is one of the largest in BigLaw, and the firm is known for offering meaningful deal and case exposure from the start.