[Rich Schweikart invites Kim for lunch after seeing her argue an unwinnable motion in court]
I have to say, watching you in court today. It sure did bring back some old memories for me. One in particular, anyway.
Yeah?
I was a year out of law school at this firm in Boston, and I was finally out on my first big case: this huge employment discrimination suit, that thing kept us in billing for a decade. Anyway, we landed this monster, and I find out I'm second chair to one of the partners on the preliminary hearing. And I think, "This is it. This is what will define the rest of my career." So, the hearing's getting closer and closer - I even get this new suit that I can't afford, I split it over three credit cards. I'm probably still paying it off to this day. So, I go in bright and early. I'm wearing my new suit, prepping my table, and in walks the opposing counsel. There's four of them: one senior partner and three high-level associates. These guys have been litigating longer than I've been alive, but I think: "Ehhh, I'm good. I got my boss coming, it'll be fine." So I'm sitting alone at my table, waiting for my boss to show, and I'm waiting... and I'm waiting... and then suddenly, they're calling us to order, and I realize that no one from my firm is coming—it's just me. So I think, "Alright then, this is the moment!", and I get up there and I argue like my life depended on it. I'm sweating, and I'm arguing statutes left and right, and I'm doing okay, respectable. But I'm just a BB gun to these four howitzers... and I lose, of course. It was inevitable... but later it hit me... that my boss never intended to show. And they laughed about it; they patted me on the back, said it was my trial by fire, and I laughed with them, but y'know, it never really sat well with me. You want them to have your back. Because at the end of the day, it wasn't about proving my mettle - my boss had a tee time he didn't want to miss. I wasn't there long.
...Could I ask why we are here?
You know, I've had my eye on you for a while. Since that Kettleman thing. It was an excellent deal you got for them, and I'm wondering... why someone who can put together a deal like that is arguing a losing position with no backup.
I have no complaints about HHM.
That's great. However, if on the off chance that you're pondering a change, Schweikart & Cokely would be more than happy to put your talents to good use.
Uh—
Of course, we'd have to have a more formal meeting, work out specifics, but we think you would be a great fit.
Well, I'm flattered, but there's clearly an ethical issue here.
Well, of course, we'd take you off Sandpiper, and rest assured - we wouldn't be expecting any information about HHM's strategy. Look, we're a large, diversified firm; just think what you could do with our resources, and the freedom to really spread your wings.
[beat] That's... I owe a lot to HHM.
Your tuition debt? We can take care of that.
That's very generous.
Well, give it some time to think about it. You give me a call and we'll set up a meeting with the rest of the senior partners, and to be clear... we're talking partner track.
