It can be hard to understand how Kirkland & Ellis got so big. Now twice the size of most its largest rivals, with revenues of more than $7 billion, the world’s biggest law firm has defied law firm strategists with its relatively narrow practice and office mix.

As this video explains, the firm has benefitted from cornering a highly lucrative private capital market that throws off various types of work and isn’t too concerned about conflicts. It tapped into the right market at the right time.