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
Judge Dismisses Malpractice Action Against Willkie Farr
: New York Law Journal : April 30, 2013
A Manhattan Supreme Court judge has thrown out a real estate investor's malpractice suit against Willkie Farr & Gallagher, finding the firm was not negligent in its advice.
IN BRIEF
: The National Law Journal : April 29, 2013
Kenneth Feinberg, the attorney selected to administer the $23.8 million compensation fund for victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, vowed on April 25 to spend all the money by the end of June. Plus more in our weekly roundup of Web-only stories from NLJ.com and other ALM publications.
Suit Against Standard & Poors To Stay In State Court
JAY STAPLETON : The Connecticut Law Tribune : April 29, 2013
An attempt by Standard & Poor's to move a Connecticut lawsuit over its allegedly fraudulent ratings of mortgage-based securities from state to federal court has been denied by a federal judge in Bridgeport, who ordered the agency to pay the state's legal fees.
Judge Dismisses Malpractice Action Against Real estate Firm Willkie Farr
Christine Simmons : New York Law Journal : April 26, 2013
In throwing out the investor's malpractice suit against Willkie Farr & Gallagher, the judge said firm was not negligent in its advice to Lightstone Group, which sued the firm, alleging $104 million in damages.
Judge Dismisses Malpractice Action Against Willkie Farr
Christine Simmons : New York Law Journal : April 26, 2013
A Manhattan Supreme Court judge has thrown out a real estate investor's malpractice suit against Willkie Farr & Gallagher, finding the firm was not negligent in its advice.
AG Suit Over Mortgage Securities' Ratings Moving Forward
Max Taves : The Recorder : April 23, 2013
Cahill Gordon Hired To Handle Rutgers Internal Investigation
David Gialanella : New Jersey Law Journal : April 23, 2013
Rutgers University has announced the retainer of Cahill Gordon & Reindel to investigate the events leading up to the firing of coach Mike Rice, who was videotaped verbally and physically abusing players at practice during his three seasons as coach.
Cahill Gordon Hired To Handle Rutgers Internal Investigation
David Gialanella : New Jersey Law Journal : April 23, 2013
Rutgers University has announced the retainer of Cahill Gordon & Reindel to investigate the events leading up to the firing of coach Mike Rice, who was videotaped verbally and physically abusing players at practice during his three seasons as coach.
Cahill Gordon Hired to Handle Rutgers Internal Investigation
David Gialanella : New Jersey Law Journal : April 23, 2013
Rutgers University has announced the retainer of Cahill Gordon & Reindel to investigate the events leading up to the firing of its men's basketball coach, Mike Rice, who was videotaped verbally and physically abusing players at practice during his three seasons as coach.
IPO Pipeline Pumps Cash Into Coffers for Latham, Other Am Law 200 Firms
Brian Baxter : The Am Law Daily : April 19, 2013
Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher, Davis Polk, and Fenwick & West are leading a pack of firms reaping the benefits from a recent round of initial public offerings that includes share sales for such companies as Fairway, SeaWorld, Taminco, and Taylor Morrison.
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