A lawyer’s choice of law will have a considerable effect on his or her salary, with specialists possessing knowledge and skills in in-demand areas of the law likely to receive higher payoffs.
Other factors affecting salary include firm size, geographic region and experience levels as well as any cases an attorney handles that impact income.
David Boies
Boies is one of the best-known lawyers in America, known as a “ninja master.” He expanded his firm from three lawyers into an industry behemoth of 240 attorneys over time. Boies has represented some of the country’s biggest corporate clients – CBS, Apple, DuPont, HSBC, IBM Gary Jackson (former Blackwater chief executive), New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Texaco, Michael Milken and many others as clients; in high-profile cases such as representing the government against Microsoft and challenging Proposition 8 through legal challenges which asserting same-sex marriage is fundamental rights.
More recently, Boies has become well-known for his representation of high-profile personal cases such as those for disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and blood testing startup Theranos. His involvement in both cases and in sinking stories about them have brought much scrutiny; nevertheless he continues to command high fees for his services.
Daniel Petrocelli
Dan Petrocelli stands out in any room full of lawyers thanks to his trim build and thick salt-and-pepper hair. He speaks passionately and moves with purpose – becoming known for big ticket litigation cases.
He represents household-name clients in high-profile matters involving media and entertainment industries. Additionally, he oversees an array of civil disputes – such as antitrust and profit participation claims – from across multiple practice areas for O’Melveny & Myers’ Century City office.
Petrocelli’s career accomplishments include representing former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling in one of the Department of Justice’s largest white-collar cases ever prosecuted – his team successfully reduced Skilling’s 24-year prison sentence by 10 years, representing an enormous legal victory.
American Lawyer has recognized him as Litigator of the Year, while a virtual Industry Awards ceremony hosted by Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar 24 House) nominated him for a Legal Emmy award. Additionally, he founded Southwestern Law School Entertainment and Media Law Institute.
John Finley
The John Finley collection comprises autograph manuscript and typescript texts of speeches given by Finley. Many speeches include additional collateral documents such as correspondence, programs and menus.
Corporate Counsel and ALM Intelligence’s report of SEC filings indicates that Blackstone CLO John Finley has secured New York’s highest-paid legal chief spot for 2022 with total compensation totalling $22.2 million, outpacing KKR CLO Kathryn King Sudol’s earnings of $18.6 million.
Prior to joining Blackstone, Finley was a partner at Simpson Thacher and co-head of its mergers and acquisitions group. Additionally, he serves as an adviser on the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law: Corporate Governance project as well as being on Harvard Law School’s Dean Advisory Board and Tradeweb Markets LLC / Jewish Board of Family and Children Services Board Advisory Committees. Finley holds an undergraduate degree from Knox College in Galesburg Illinois.
Kathryn King Sudol
After an influenza-related pause, cash compensation for America’s top legal chiefs has rebounded significantly this year. John Finley of Blackstone earned $22.2 million while Kathryn King Sudol of KKR earned $18.6 million, according to securities filings.
Sudol joined KKR in September as general counsel, replacing Simpson Thacher M&A partner David Sorkin in the position. At the end of the first quarter 2023 she will transition into her CLO role while Sorkin becomes an advisory partner.
Sudol is an esteemed corporate, M&A and private equity attorney. She has advised numerous corporate and private equity clients on high-profile transactions during her 24-year career as partner at Simpson Thacher; where she held multiple leadership roles such as global co-head of M&A practice (2010-18) as well as heading up M&A practice Asia from 2010-2018.