Quiet for a Second Year: Kirkland & Ellis's 2026 Partner Promotions
2 minute read • Updated 16 October 2026
Data is derived from tracked partner promotions, numbers may be incomplete due to limited public information and will be updated as more promotions are mapped.
Kirkland & Ellis has skipped its partner class announcement for the second year running. Until 2024, the firm issued a press release each October naming its newly promoted partners. Without one, the only way to track the promotions is via publicly sourced databases like
Pirical Legal Professionals.
Kirkland & Ellis has Promoted 196 Partners this Year
As reported and verified by a person with knowledge of the matter, the 196 promotions represent a decrease from last year's record-breaking round.
Over 80% of This Year's Promotions are Based in the United States
New York City has the most promotions with at least 52. Salt Lake City has the highest share of promotions relative to the office's total associate headcount (12.3%).
Outside of the United States, promotions occurred in the London (25), Munich (3), Frankfurt (2), Paris (2), Shanghai (1), and Riyadh (1) offices.
Corporate Practices Account for Nearly 50% of Promoted Partners
The Median Level of Experience is 6 Years Post-JD
Two-Thirds of Kirkland’s New Partners Joined the Firm as Laterals, the Rest are Homegrown
Note on methodology
Source: publicly available data tracked by Pirical Legal Professionals
Timeframe: partner promotions from October 2026
Data is derived from tracked partner promotions, numbers may be incomplete due to limited public information and will be updated as more promotions are mapped.

(Updated 16 October 2026)
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