Kirkland & Ellis has been rattling its competition lately as it picks off one prominent partner after another from rival Am Law 100 firms by offering lavish pay deals. Kirkland’s latest big-ticket hire is corporate finance partner Richard Aftanas, who is joining from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York, according to two people knowledgeable about the matter.

But some of Kirkland’s competitors are fighting back.