Kirkland, Latham Nab Big Law Rival Equity Partners in Texas (1)

The two biggest US law firms by revenue are staffing up on equity partners from rivals in major Texas cities.

Kirkland & Ellis equity partner Chris Heasley, based in Austin, is leaving for Latham & Watkins, two people familiar with the move said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move hasn’t been announced publicly.

Kirkland is also moving to acquire two equity partners from rival Big Law shops in the Lone Star state. One of those is Weil Gotshal & Manges’ Dallas office co-managing partner Jonathan Macke, one of the people said. Kirkland is also in the process of acquiring Vinson & Elkins partner Alex Robertson in Dallas, two people familiar with the matter said.

Both Kirkland and Latham have turbocharged their profitability through aggressive lateral hiring and by netting lucrative work in private equity and corporate dealmaking. Kirkland’s equity partners made on average $9.2 million in profits per equity partner in 2024, while Latham’s made $7.1 million in the same year, Bloomberg Law data shows.

“We thank Chris for his contribution to the firm and wish him well in the future,” Kirkland said in a statement. Latham, Weil, and V&E didn’t immediately comment. Heasley, Macke, and Robertson didn’t immediately provide comments.

The moves emphasize Big Law’s focus on growing their equity partner ranks in their Texas dealmaking practices. Equity partners are defined as lawyers with an ownership stake in their firms and they get paid in shares of the firms’ profits.

Heasley advises energy companies and investment firms in the purchase and sale of energy assets. Macke, who became Weil’s Dallas office co-managing partner earlier this year, according to his LinkedIn profile, works on the tax aspects of corporate transactions. Robertson advises investment firms and companies in M&A transactions and capital raising. He has represented asset manager Blackstone, a Kirkland client, in acquisition deals with infrastructure company Tallgrass Energy, his V&E profile shows.

Kirkland grossed $8.8 billion in revenue in 2024, making it the biggest US law firm by that measure, according to data published by Bloomberg Law. Latham is the second biggest with $7 billion in revenue in 2024, according to the data.

— With reporting by Eric Killelea in Houston.