Kramer Levin
1177 Avenue of Americas
New York, NY 10036
New York, NY 10036
(212) 715-9100
Overview
Introduction
With 400 lawyers, Kramer Levin embraces a diversified practice model, with particular strength in bankruptcy, immigration, litigation, M&A, real estate, and white collar. Matters are staffed leanly, giving lawyers early and frequent opportunities for partner contact and sophisticated work.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2022)
250 - 500
No. of Partners Named (2021)
3
Featured Rankings
Vault Law 100
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2020)
22
No. of Summer Associates (2022)
17 total (14 2Ls; 2 1Ls)
Base Salary
1st year: $215,000
Vault Verdict
Kramer Levin associates are proud of the fact that the firm consistently finds top talent from non-traditional backgrounds. While grades and law school are considered and important, the firm prizes personality and diversity of thought. Interview questions are a mix of behavioral and conversational, designed to suss out critical thinking and a candidate’s character. Associates praise the firm’s friendly and informal culture, which they say creates a “boutique atmosphere” in spite of the firm’s size. Partners are supportive and actively encourage associate growth through feedback and mentorship. Management promotes transparency by holding regular town hall meetings, and associates feel that leadership genuinely values associate input. Long hours are inevitable, but associates ...
About the Firm
Rooted in New York, with offices in Silicon Valley, Washington, DC, and Paris, Kramer Levin is a full-service shop with 400 lawyers. The firm practices across dozens of areas with particular strength in bankruptcy, immigration, litigation, M&A, real estate, and white collar.
Many Eggs, Many Baskets
Fourteen New York attorneys teamed up to start Kramer Levin in 1968. From the start, Kramer Levin was positioned as a full-service firm that didn’t rely on a single hallmark practice or long standing relationship with one major client. This approach, combined with the firm’s small size, meant that some practice areas were run by just one or two lawyers, but it also meant that Kramer Levin was able to accept litigation, real estate, transactional, tax, and trusts and estates assignmen...
2023 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “The day-to-day atmosphere is friendly and less formal relative to other big firms in which I've practiced. Management does place a big emphasis on culture, and while those who have spent their entire careers at Kramer may not have the benefit of contrast, I think many laterals will notice a meaningful difference (with the usual caveat for a few ‘certain’ personalities that do exist, like anywhere).”
- “A very relaxed and team-oriented culture. Not a lot of socialization outside of work, but teams are close-knit and associates learn as much from our excellent and experienced staff as from partners.”
- “Not super social, but a very nice and lovely place to work.”
- “Everyone I have worked with at the firm has been so kind, willing to help, and all-around pleasant. Although the pandemic has prevented us from socializing together in person, the firm has made a concerted effort to schedule regular department lunches and other programs to maintain a sense of connection and community.”
Why Work Here
Working at Kramer Levin
• You’ll get real work, not make work. We’re not a mega-firm, and we don’t staff like one. You’ll be an important and valued member of our team.
• As a Kramer Levin Summer Associate, you have a say in what type of work you do. There are no department assignments. No rotations. We want to know what interests you and how we can help you play to your strengths.
• If pro bono interests you, then we have a lot in common. Our commitment to pro bono is well-known. What is less well-known is that there are no limits on the number of pro bono hours you can count as “billable” toward bonus requirements. In pro bono as in life, we encourage you to follow your interests.
• Training is second-to-none, due in large part to our robust “shadowing” program, which provides junior attorneys with hands-on learning opportunities by encouraging them to accompany more experienced lawyers to depositions, negotiations, strategy sessions, corporate board meetings, conference calls and the like. As with pro bono, hours spent shadowing count as “billable” toward bonus requirements.
Diversity at Kramer Levin
"At Kramer Levin, we believe that exposure to varied perspectives, experiences and backgrounds enhances our work environment and creates a healthy culture of acceptance and professional growth. Our firm's diversity mission is to proactively build and promote mutually beneficial relationships and to operate the firm in an inclusive, ethical and culturally sensitive manner that embraces individual differences. At Kramer Levin, your career will not be limited in any way by race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and..."
Getting Hired Here
- “We seem to be somewhat more open to ‘non-traditional’ backgrounds than some other places. Of course it's competitive, and your law school and grades will be of substantial importance.”
- “From my experience with working with legal recruiting, we get a lot of well-qualified candidates and have a competitive recruiting process. The firm is looking for interesting associates who are hard-working and smart, have good character, and are team players. Collegiality is of higher value than educational prestige.”
- “I think the firm is looking for smart, hard workers with diverse backgrounds. The firm does not appear to fixate on law schools and pedigree, which is refreshing because many big firms do. Prior work experience, work ethic, and a congenial personality are probably the most important characteristics they look for in a new hire.”
- “I can't speak to the competitiveness of the hiring process, but I do know the firm values far more than grades and pedigree. The firm looks for critical thinking skills, work ethic, and diversity of thought.”
Practice Area Q&A’s
Seth R. Niedermayer & Nicole S. De Bare
Partner & Special Counsel—Real Estate
Kramer Levin
