At Kirkland & Ellis, Rick Cieri is His Own Toughest Critic

Rick Cieri decided to become a lawyer while still in high school.  While attending the University of Michigan Law School, he had no plans to become a bankruptcy lawyer, but found when he started his career that it afforded an attractive mix of trial and corporate law.  Before joining Kirkland & Ellis, Cieri headed the restructuring groups of Jones Day and Gibson Dunn.  He joined Kirkland at the recommendation of James Sprayregen, a close friend and another member of the small community of elite restructuring lawyers.  Ranked among the top bankruptcy lawyers by numerous legal publications, Cieri remains humble.

“I am never completely happy with my performance and always think I can do better,” Cieri says. “If you ever think that you have no room for improvement, you will stop growing as a lawyer.  If you ever develop too much hubris in this business, you are going to get run over.”

This article appeared in its entirety in the March 4, 2005 edition of Daily Bankruptcy Review.