Change is inevitable but it's not always positive - Recensione dipendente - Associate presso Kaye Scholer

Schizophrenic re: firm identity: is it a "big NY firm" or is it a "mid-size firm"? like many firms, Kaye has undergone significant changes over the past 3 years or so - some of the changes have been very positive and long overdue (improving communication) but the firm's culture is also changing in ways that are not necessarily for the best and this is due primarily to the influx of lateral partners. As a result, the home grown associates, with a few exceptions, are starting to be viewed as not good enough for promotion (which if you think about it, whose fault is that?) Its recruiting efforts have become very elitist over the past few years but Kaye has never wanted to provide the perks that the elite firms provide to tempt the cream of the crop who even in this economy can still pick and choose their firms. Associates are now being told that they need to try and develop business, which is fine if the firm is willing to take small matters brought in by associates but there have been several instances where business has been rejected due to the small margin of profitability. So this brings me to my biggest con: if Kaye is going to operate like a mid-size firm where associates are expected to bring business to the table to justify promotion, then accept the identity as a mid-size firm and drop the elitist "big NY firm" nonsense and stop pretending that kids from area NY schools like Brooklyn, Hofstra and St. Johns are no longer good enough to walk the hallowed halls of Kaye Scholer. Also, if business development is now a requirement, then it needs to be applied across the board, not simply in certain practice groups - otherwise, the schizophrenia will continue and talented people that you should hold onto (because they will bring in business) will continue to leave as soon as they can find a better opportunity.