Kendall Brill & Klieger's Richard Kendall
Irell partners light out on their own
May 4, 2009
LOS ANGELES — Three partners at Los Angeles-based Irell & Manella — Richard B. Kendall, Laura W. Brill and Robert N. Klieger — have left to form their own firm, Kendall Brill & Klieger, which opened on May 4.
Kendall said that he and his colleagues wanted to provide more flexible billing arrangements and rates for their clients, which include Viacom Inc. and billboard operators CBS Outdoor and Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc.
"This is an opportunity for us to put some of our thoughts in practice about how to develop the best law firm for the next decade," Kendall said.
Among the new offerings are incentive-based billing arrangements, in which lawyers agree on how much to charge based on the results of the case and at what stage those results are reached, he said.
Kendall Brill & Klieger hopes to hire about half a dozen attorneys, with the goal of having more than a dozen within a few years, he said.
These attorneys will not be classified as "associates" or "counsel" — Kendall referred to them during an interview as, simply, "attorneys." Over time, could participate in firm profits, Kendall said. Within a year, the firm plans to institute a program whereby attorneys would receive base salaries and then, after an undefined period, could obtain a share in firm profits — although the partners would continue to make most of the profits, he said.
"It's something that a number of law firms used to do," he said. "I think it helps to break down the employer-employee mentality that I don't think is all that healthy in a professional firm. What we want to try to do is build a really collaborative atmosphere, and I think it helps for everyone to have a sense of ownership in the future of the firm."
The three partners have focused primarily on media and entertainment-related litigation, although Kendall has represented financial services firms such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. and foreign governments in international disputes.
Kendall has tried more than 30 cases in federal and state courts. He has taught evidence and international litigation and arbitration as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. A former federal prosecutor, Kendall joined Irell & Manella in 1997.
Brill handles complex litigation, intellectual property, First Amendment and appellate issues. She joined Irell in 1997.
Klieger focuses on commercial litigation, particularly intellectual property and entertainment issues. He has represented several motion picture studios and television networks in copyright and idea submission disputes, licensing and trademark matters and executive compensation issues. He joined Irell in 1999.
The new firm, a litigation boutique, will focus on disputes involving copyright, trademark, contracts, internal investigations, torts, employment, insurance coverage and class actions.
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