Kirkland & Ellis just dropped a new track in Music City — and yes, it’s a full-on Biglaw power ballad.
The world’s richest law firm is officially opening a Nashville office, calling the city “an ideal environment” for more “aggressive” growth, referring to the office launch as “part of its strategy to attract top legal talent and meet growing client demand” — which in Kirkland-speak translates to: we’re not here for karaoke night, we’re here for a multi-album deal.
The firm is launching its Nashville presence with a lineup of litigation partners that reads like a touring supergroup: Tara Blake, Matt Smith, Paul Rosenblatt, and Travis Swearingen, relocating in from Houston, the Bay Area, and D.C. And that’s just the opening act. Kirkland says around 10 litigators have joined or will join the office soon, with more partners and associates coming across both litigation and transactional practices. Nashville may be a secondary market, but this isn’t just a satellite office for the firm — it’s a full-stage production with backup singers, lighting, and a pyrotechnics budget.
Chairman Jon Ballis praised Nashville as a “vibrant and growing city” with a strong talent pool and law school community — which is corporate code for the city having money, lawyers, and momentum, and Kirkland wants to remix all three. The firm is pitching the move as part of its broader national growth strategy, and if recent history is any guide, that strategy sounds a lot like: open new offices, hire aggressively, dominate markets, repeat. “We’re excited to open our doors in the Music City with a terrific group of lawyers across our litigation and transactional practice areas,” Ballis said in a statement.
This Nashville office isn’t a side project for the firm, it’s another verse in a very loud growth anthem. As noted by the American Lawyer, Kirkland has been on a nationwide expansion tour: Salt Lake City, Miami, Philadelphia, and now Nashville. Secondary markets like Austin, Atlanta, Denver, Miami, and Nashville are becoming Biglaw’s hottest venues, driven by client migration, remote work, and business-friendly climates. Firms aren’t just following the money — they’re following the vibes.
So yes, Kirkland is officially trying to make beautiful music in Music City. And judging by the size of the band they’re assembling, this isn’t a quiet acoustic set — it’s a stadium tour.
Kirkland Opens in Nashville, Calling It ‘an Ideal Environment’ for More Growth [American Lawyer]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
The post World’s Richest Law Firm Takes The Stage In Music City appeared first on Above the Law.