The Force Awakens in Los Angeles at Sidley Austin

Over the past year, something has been happening at the Los Angeles office of Sidley Austin that has the legal community abuzz.

The firm added around 20 lawyers, an office in Century City and talent from Wall Street law firms such as Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy.

Today, its Los Angeles offices have about 170 lawyers, making it the biggest in the area for an out-of-state firm, according to partner Michael Kelley.

What the heck is going on?! — Big Law Business posed that question to Kelley and Sidley Austin’s Los Angeles co-managing partner Dan Clivner, ...