Kutak Lawyers Rock, Roll Into Corporate Jobs

(Click here to see a list of the region’s law firms.)

Jeffrey J. Gearhart, a partner at Kutak Rock LLP in Little Rock, said being a farm system for the state’s corporate counsel departments is a good thing.

Describing the six senior lawyers who’ve left the firm in recent years for corporate pastures as a testament to Kutak’s “high standards of service and quality,” Gearhart said the exodus is more of a compliment than a curse.

“It is extremely gratifying when highly respected companies think enough of our attorneys to want to hire them to fill important positions,” Gearhart said.

Kutak Rock employes more than 300 lawyers in 16 cities including Little Rock and Fayetteville, where the firm recently relocated to a posh suite in the Three Sisters building on Dickson Street.

The departures of Arkansas-based Kutak lawyers have been to in-house corporate positions at corporations such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in Bentonville, Tyson Foods Inc. in Springdale and securities firm Stephens Inc. of Little Rock, which also maintains a large Fayetteville operation.

Gearhart said the high level of success that former lawyers have had also is helpful in recruiting new lawyers to the firm, although Gearhart said going corporate is not what Kutak Rock stresses to its potential employees.

“We recruit people with the view that they will ultimately become partners and be here long term,” he said.

And Gearhart said because of the firm’s competitive pay with other law firms on the market, he believes the prospect of a high-level position and the challenges that come with the job are what draws senior lawyers to corporate counsel gigs.

It’s the kind of a job, Gearhart said, that would be difficult for anyone to turn down.

Ruth Ann Wisener, a lawyer for Tyson Foods and a former Kutak Rock employee, said she never considered Kutak Rock as a springboard for bigger and better things when she was there. And although it was difficult to leave, Wisener said the offer from Tyson Foods was one she simply couldn’t pass up.

She credits Kutak Rock with providing the necessary experience that enabled her to accept the position with the world’s largest protein provider.

“The type of work and experience an attorney gains at Kutak Rock is valuable to corporate entities that have in-house legal departments,” Wisener said.

Although several Kutak Rock lawyers have moved to corporate positions, Wisener said she doesn’t believe the possibility of going in-house is on any potential Kutak Rock-lawyer’s mind. Instead, she agrees the quality of clients and the type of work the firm generates are key recruiting tools.

Gearhart said employees moving to corporations with wich Kutak does business, such as the three named above, only strengthens those relationships, too.

CHART

Kutak conversions

Here are the six Kutak Rock lawyers who have made the move to corporations in recent years:

LawyertCompanytTitle

Les BaledgetTyson Foods Inc.tgeneral counsel

Rick MasseytStephens Inc.tmanaging director

Tom MarstWal-Mart Stores Inc.tgeneral counsel

David StillstWal-Mart Stores Inc.tsenior litigation counsel

Ruth Ann WisenertTyson Foods Inc.tcorporate counsel

Source: Kutak Rock LLP