Firm Profiles
IN-DEPTH RESEARCH REPORT
on Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
- - Financial Information
- - Compensation
- - Billing Rates
- - Lateral Partner Moves
- - Pro bono
- - Key Contacts
Cahill Gordon & Reindel
- Designation: New York
- Head Count: 303
- Gross Revenues: $348,500,000
- Revenue Per Lawyer: $1,150,000
- Profits Per Partner: $3,555,000
- Year Over Year Change: 2
Cahill has always been something of an oddity among the largest law firms. It has never been among the leaders—or even close to them—on gross revenue; indeed, the firm fell off The Am Law 100 list for a couple of years during the recession. It has never had large rosters of lawyers or a network of far–flung offices (there are just three: the New York base, London, and Washington, D.C.). It has a partnership that numbers well under 100. Yet only a handful of firms can match Cahill on profitability. Indeed, it’s one of an elite group of firms to cross the $2 million mark on profits per partner, a figure it maintained even during the downturn. And average compensation per partner regularly ranks among the top ten, and sometimes the top five.
Cahill, which was founded in 1919, is no stranger to the ups and downs of the financial markets. After developing one of the premier leveraged finance practices in the 1980s, Cahill saw its largest banking client, Drexel Burnham Lambert, implode in 1990. But the practice continued to grow; Cahill boasts one of the most active high–yield debt operations in the nation. But it suffers with the broader economy, taking a hit during the post–Lehman Brothers–bust only to return by 2010 when the firm rejoined The Am Law 100 with a big revenue jump.
The firm also has a well–regarded litigation department—John Cahill was the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in the 1940s. It may be best known for its First Amendment and media law practice led by Floyd Abrams. He represented The New York Times in the 1971 Pentagon Papers case, and more recently, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the McCain–Feingold campaign finance regulations.
Cahill scores middle–of–the–pack numbers on pro bono work, placing 114th of 200 firms in The American Lawyer’s 2011 survey. Attorneys averaged 40 hours of pro bono work, but less than a quarter of the firm lawyers put in more than 20 hours. Diversity, too, is no showstopper: Cahill ranked 106th of 194 firms on our 2011 scorecard, with barely 6 percent of the U.S. partnership composed of minorities. The firm has been more successful, however, in keeping its junior lawyers happy: Cahill placed near the top third of firms in The American Lawyer’s 2011 Midlevels Associates Survey.
—Updated as of 1/1/12
Firm Rankings
| Survey | Rank | Year Over Year Change | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Am Law 100 | 84 | 2 | Gross revenue |
| Am Law 200 | 84 | 2 | Gross revenue |
| NLJ 250 | 150 | 5 | Lawyer head count |
| The A-List | NR | N/A | Overall excellence |
| Pro Bono Scorecard | 114 | 24 | Pro-bono commitment |
| Diversity Scorecard | 124 | 18 | Minority head count |
| Midlevel Associates Survey | 43 | 65 | Job satisfaction |
| Summer Associates Survey | 97 | 10 | Summer programs |
In the News
AP Subpoenas Spotlight Obama's Scrutiny of Press
Zoe Tillman and Mike Scarcella : The National Law Journal : May 17, 2013
The Obama administration's record on transparency once again faces criticism - this time from both Republicans and Democrats - following the revelation that the U.S. Department of Justice secretly obtained and reviewed Associated Press telephone records during a criminal investigation into a suspected leak of classified information.
Supreme Court Articulates Rigorous Standard for Class Certification
Elai Katz : New York Law Journal : May 17, 2013
In his Antitrust column, Elai Katz, a partner of Cahill Gordon & Reindel, writes that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a district court should not have certified a class of cable subscribers asserting antitrust violations by their cable provider because the plaintiffs did not adequately demonstrate that their damages could be measured on a class-wide basis.
AP Subpoenas Spotlight Obama's Scrutiny of Press
Zoe Tillman and Mike Scarcella : The National Law Journal : May 14, 2013
The Obama administration's record on transparency once again faces criticism—this time from both Republicans and Democrats—following the revelation that the U.S. Department of Justice secretly obtained and reviewed Associated Press telephone records during a criminal investigation into a suspected leak of classified information.
Cahill Gordon Resigns From Rutgers Investigation
David Gialanella : New Jersey Law Journal : May 14, 2013
Two weeks after Rutgers University retained Cahill Gordon & Reindel to investigate the handling of issues leading to the dismissal of basketball coach Mike Rice, the firm resigned, citing a development that could give the perception "of a lack of impartiality."
AP Subpoenas Spotlight Obama's Scrutiny of Press
Zoe Tillman and Mike Scarcella : The National Law Journal : May 14, 2013
The Obama administration's record on transparency once again faces criticism—this time from both Republicans and Democrats—following the revelation that the U.S. Department of Justice secretly obtained and reviewed Associated Press telephone records during a criminal investigation into a suspected leak of classified information.
Bratz Trial Winner, Manatt Refugees Start New Boutique
Amanda Bronstad : The National Law Journal : May 13, 2013
Jennifer Keller, the attorney who won an $88.5 million verdict against Mattel in the battle over the Bratz doll, has teamed up with former Manatt Phelps partners Thomas Umberg, Dean Zipser and Carole Reagan to create an Irvine, Calif.-based boutique. Also joining is Kay Rackauckas, Keller's law firm partner, and Allison Shalinsky, an attorney at Keller Rackauckas.
The Score: Robinson Bradshaw Gets Call for Project X
Brian Baxter : The Am Law Daily : May 10, 2013
The Southeastern Conference turned to Charlotte's Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson to advise on a sports network deal with ESPN; Rutgers replaces Cahill Gordon with Skadden for an internal probe of its embattled athletic program; a former Manatt partner counsels the first gay male athlete in a major U.S. professional sports league; and Katten Muchin gets involved in the bidding for the Sacramento Kings.
Citing Potential Conflict, Cahill Resigns From Rutgers Probe
David Gialanella : New Jersey Law Journal : May 10, 2013
Two weeks after Rutgers University retained Cahill Gordon & Reindel to investigate the handling of issues leading to the dismissal of basketball coach Mike Rice, the firm resigned, citing a development that could give the perception "of a lack of impartiality."
Boutique Includes Bratz Trial Winner, Manatt Refugees
Amanda Bronstad : The National Law Journal : May 9, 2013
Boutique Includes Bratz Trial Winner, Manatt Refugees
Amanda Bronstad : The National Law Journal : May 9, 2013
Jennifer Keller, the attorney who won an $88.5 million verdict against Mattel Inc. in the battle over the Bratz doll, has teamed up with three former partners at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to create a new firm based in Irvine, Calif.
- Adams and Reese
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- Buist Moore
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- Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
- Clifford Chance
- Cooley
- Covington & Burling
- Cravath, Swaine & Moore
- Davis Polk & Wardwell
- Dewey & LeBoeuf
- Dickstein Shapiro
- DLA Piper
- Duane Morris
- Eversheds
- Fish & Richardson
- Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
- Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian
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- Howrey
- Irwin Mitchell
- Jenner & Block
- K&L Gates
- Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman
- Kirkland & Ellis
- Latham & Watkins
- Linklaters
- Mallesons Stephen Jaques
- Moore & Van Allen
- Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
- Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
- Nexsen Pruet
- Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,
- Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
- Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
- Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
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- Proskauer Rose
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- Ropes & Gray
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- Slaughter and May
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- Sullivan & Cromwell
- Vinson & Elkins
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- Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr
- Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice
