Jim Grandolfo leads the Hong Kong office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, where he specializes in capital markets, M&A, and private equity transactions. Based out of Hong Kong since 2000, he intimately understands the Asia legal market. Jim shares unique insights into dealmaking across Asia and expert knowledge he has gained over the years.

Biglaw Book of Business features veteran legal recruiter Robert Kinney, Founder and President of Kinney Recruiting, and David Lat, Editor at Large and Founder of Above the Law. In each episode, these two experts on the world of Biglaw and elite boutiques discuss recent notable lateral moves, take an in-depth look at a specific legal market, and offer advice for current and aspiring partners at leading law firms.

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://abovethelaw.com
• http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
• Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
• • https://twitter.com/atlblog
  • https://twitter.com/kinneyrec
  • https://twitter.com/DavidLat
• Email David at [email protected]
• Email Robert at [email protected]
• https://www.milbank.com/en/professionals/james-grandolfo.html

Episode Highlights

• How Jim became introduced to Hong Kong and the Asia legal market.
• The types of deals and countries where he and his colleagues focus.
• Strengths and weaknesses of the Asia market.
• How Jim built a practice, and the relationships he focused on.
• Challenges a lawyer faces while working in various marketplaces across the globe.
• The difference between confidence and arrogance.

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Subscribe with RSS

Mario Leissner is the founder and Managing Partner of the Frankfurt office of King & Spalding. Together Mario, Robert and David talk about the importance of firm culture and how it attracts talent, and what Mario has done to establish high standards (and rates).

Biglaw Book of Business features veteran legal recruiter Robert Kinney, Founder and President of Kinney Recruiting, and David Lat, Editor at Large and Founder of Above the Law. In each episode, these two experts on the world of Biglaw and elite boutiques discuss recent notable lateral moves, take an in-depth look at a specific legal market, and offer advice for current and aspiring partners at leading law firms.

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://abovethelaw.com
• http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
• Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
• • https://twitter.com/atlblog
  • https://twitter.com/kinneyrec
  • https://twitter.com/DavidLat
• Email David at [email protected]
• Email Robert at [email protected]
• https://www.kslaw.com/people/Mario-Leissner

Episode Highlights

• The importance of law firm culture and how it attracts top talent.
• How Mario started his career as a lawyer.
• Strengths and weaknesses of the German legal market.
• What King & Spalding has done to establish high standards (and high standard rates).
• Mario’s view on the German government and the strength of its economy.
• Strategies for retaining and keeping clients.

Review, Subscribe and Share

If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here.

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• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Subscribe with Stitcher
• Subscribe with RSS

David and Robert discuss the considerations around launching a new office, the growing Asia legal market, and travel tips.

Biglaw Book of Business features veteran legal recruiter Robert Kinney, Founder and President of Kinney Recruiting, and David Lat, Editor at Large and Founder of Above the Law. In each episode, these two experts on the world of Biglaw and elite boutiques discuss recent notable lateral moves, take an in-depth look at a specific legal market, and offer advice for current and aspiring partners at leading law firms.

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://abovethelaw.com
• http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
• Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
• • https://twitter.com/atlblog
  • https://twitter.com/kinneyrec
  • https://twitter.com/DavidLat
• Email David at [email protected]
• Email Robert at [email protected]

Episode Highlights

• 1st Topic: 12 attorneys leaving Reed Smith to start a Philadelphia office for Holland & Knight - 1:37
• Starting a new office for a different firm - 1:59
• Good and bad reasons for opening a new office - 4:34
• 2nd Topic: Market snapshot - Asia - 8:49
• Robert talks about his visit to Asia - 9:16
• Discussion of the Seoul legal market - 10:24
• Discussion of the Hong Kong legal market - 14:46
• 3rd Topic: Travel tips - 19:40
• Finding an airline that works for you - 21:13
• A useful navigation app for traveling in Asia - 22:53

Review, Subscribe and Share

If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here.

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• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
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• Subscribe with RSS

Special guest Robert René Rabalais, partner with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in Houston, speaks with Robert Kinney and David Lat about Simpson's entry into Houston, the Houston legal market in general, and business development for lawyers.

Biglaw Book of Business features veteran legal recruiter Robert Kinney, Founder and President of Kinney Recruiting, and David Lat, Editor at Large and Founder of Above the Law. In each episode, these two experts on the world of Biglaw and elite boutiques discuss recent notable lateral moves, take an in-depth look at a specific legal market, and offer advice for current and aspiring partners at leading law firms.

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://abovethelaw.com
• http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
• Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
• • https://twitter.com/atlblog
  • https://twitter.com/kinneyrec
  • https://twitter.com/DavidLat
• Email David at [email protected]
• Email Robert at [email protected]

Episode Highlights

• Simpson & Thacher’s growth in the Houston market.
• What initially brought Simpson into the Houston market.
• Snapshot of the Houston legal market.
• Current state of the market in Texas.
• Robert Rabalais’s approach and philosophy to business development.
• Business development changes Robert has seen over the decades.

Review, Subscribe and Share

If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here.

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• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
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• Subscribe with RSS

Robert and David talk about the rapid expansion of Kirkland & Ellis and why Kirkland is thriving so much these days. They also address the London market and share career advice for partners that want to leave their firms on good terms.

Biglaw Book of Business features veteran legal recruiter Robert Kinney, Founder and President of Kinney Recruiting, and David Lat, Editor at Large and Founder of Above the Law. In each episode, these two experts on the world of Biglaw and elite boutiques discuss recent notable lateral moves, take an in-depth look at a specific legal market, and offer advice for current and aspiring partners at leading law firms.

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://abovethelaw.com
• http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
• Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
• • https://twitter.com/atlblog
  • https://twitter.com/kinneyrec
  • https://twitter.com/DavidLat
• Email David at [email protected]
• Email Robert at [email protected]

Episode Highlights

• Why Kirkland is thriving so much these days
• Understanding Kirkland’s compensation system
• Market snapshot of London
• Career advice - How partners can leave their firms on good terms.

Review, Subscribe and Share

If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here.

Make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Subscribe with Stitcher
• Subscribe with RSS

David and Robert discuss Winston & Strawn’s aggressive and impressive strategy to build its energy-law practice; conduct a market snapshot for Northern California, both San Francisco and Silicon Valley; and offer advice to lawyers on saying no gracefully and keeping their options open.

Biglaw Book of Business features veteran legal recruiter Robert Kinney, Founder and President of Kinney Recruiting, and David Lat, Editor at Large and Founder of Above the Law. In each episode, these two experts on the world of Biglaw and elite boutiques discuss recent notable lateral moves, take an in-depth look at a specific legal market, and offer advice for current and aspiring partners at leading law firms.

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://abovethelaw.com
• http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
• Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
• • https://twitter.com/atlblog
  • https://twitter.com/kinneyrec
  • https://twitter.com/DavidLat
• Email David at [email protected]
• Email Robert at [email protected]

Episode Highlights

• The different types of energy law Winston is practicing
• Where people are coming from to join Winston
• How the rise of renewables is affecting the energy market cycles
• Other players in the energy law marketplace
• Market snapshot of Silicon Valley and San Francisco
• The lateral partner market in Northern California
• Career advice - Saying “no” and keeping your options open
• Why ghosting doesn’t work in the law firm context

Review, Subscribe and Share

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• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
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• Subscribe with RSS

In this inaugural episode, David and Robert discuss lateral moves related to the merger between Andrews Kurth and Hunton & Williams; conduct a market snapshot of New York, the biggest Biglaw market; and offer advice to lawyers on negotiating lateral offers. Biglaw Book of Business features veteran legal recruiter Robert Kinney, Founder and President of Kinney Recruiting, and David Lat, Editor at Large and Founder of Above the Law. In each episode, these two experts on the world of Biglaw and elite boutiques discuss recent notable lateral moves, take an in-depth look at a specific legal market, and offer advice for current and aspiring partners at leading law firms.

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://abovethelaw.com
• http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
• Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
  • https://twitter.com/atlblog
  • https://twitter.com/kinneyrec
  • https://twitter.com/DavidLat
• Email David at [email protected]
• Email Robert at [email protected]

Episode Highlights

• Advantages to Andrews Kurth of joining forces with Hunton & Williams
• Who is departing Andrews Kurth and what we might anticipate
• A snapshot of the New York legal market
• Best and worst parts about practicing in New York
• Advice on negotiating the tricky aspects of an offer

Review, Subscribe and Share

If you like what you hear, please leave a review by clicking here.

Make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe with RSS

Biglaw Book of Business features veteran legal recruiter Robert Kinney, Founder and President of Kinney Recruiting, and David Lat, Editor at Large and Founder of Above the Law. In each episode, these two experts on the world of Biglaw and elite boutiques discuss recent notable lateral moves, take an in-depth look at a specific legal market, and offer advice for current and aspiring partners at leading law firms.

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://abovethelaw.com
• http://www.kinneyrecruiting.com
• Connect with David Lat and Robert Kinney
• • https://twitter.com/atlblog
  • https://twitter.com/kinneyrec
  • https://twitter.com/DavidLat
• Email David at [email protected]
• Email Robert at [email protected]