George W. Bush’s Justice Department didn’t exactly churn out highly coveted lawyers for the big firms—two years after resigning as attorney general, Alberto Gonzales finally landed a teaching spot at Texas Tech. But at least one top Justice official had law firms across Washington eager to hand over millions: former solicitor general Paul Clement.
Now head of King & Spalding’s appellate practice, Clement is rumored to be raking in $5 million a year—a figure seemingly confirmed during a panel discussion in July about the future of DC law firms. One of the panelists, O’Melveny & Myers’s DC managing partner Brian Brooks, let slip that O’Melveny had been in the running to land “a top DOJ official” but dropped out of the bidding when the annual ante reached $5 million—with three years guaranteed. “Everybody in the know knew it was Paul,” says a lawyer who attended the event.
Brooks dispelled remaining doubts when, moments later, he quipped that former solicitors general now “make $5 million a year.” Later Brooks laughed when asked about his comments, then coyly said, “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
After furious bidding—other interested firms reportedly included Kirkland & Ellis; Latham & Watkins; and Skadden, Arps—Clement settled at the Washington office of Atlanta-based King & Spalding, where he had practiced before becoming principal deputy solicitor general in 2001. The average partner at the firm made $1.235 million in 2008, according to the American Lawyer.
The firm is mum on the subject. “We don’t comment in any way, shape, or form on compensation issues as they pertain to specific individuals,” says DC managing partner J. Sedwick Sollers.
The Clement paycheck might raise a question for Obama solicitor general Elena Kagan: How badly does she want that rumored lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court? Associate justices make $208,100 a year.
This article first appeared in the September 2009 issue of The Washingtonian. For more articles from that issue, click here.
Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 as a staff writer, and became a senior editor in 2014. She was previously a reporter for Legal Times and the National Law Journal. She lives in Northeast DC with her husband, two dogs, and two cats.
How to Be a $5-Million Man
George W. Bush’s Justice Department didn’t exactly churn out highly coveted lawyers for the big firms—two years after resigning as attorney general, Alberto Gonzales finally landed a teaching spot at Texas Tech. But at least one top Justice official had law firms across Washington eager to hand over millions: former solicitor general Paul Clement.
Now head of King & Spalding’s appellate practice, Clement is rumored to be raking in $5 million a year—a figure seemingly confirmed during a panel discussion in July about the future of DC law firms. One of the panelists, O’Melveny & Myers’s DC managing partner Brian Brooks, let slip that O’Melveny had been in the running to land “a top DOJ official” but dropped out of the bidding when the annual ante reached $5 million—with three years guaranteed. “Everybody in the know knew it was Paul,” says a lawyer who attended the event.
Brooks dispelled remaining doubts when, moments later, he quipped that former solicitors general now “make $5 million a year.” Later Brooks laughed when asked about his comments, then coyly said, “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
After furious bidding—other interested firms reportedly included Kirkland & Ellis; Latham & Watkins; and Skadden, Arps—Clement settled at the Washington office of Atlanta-based King & Spalding, where he had practiced before becoming principal deputy solicitor general in 2001. The average partner at the firm made $1.235 million in 2008, according to the American Lawyer.
The firm is mum on the subject. “We don’t comment in any way, shape, or form on compensation issues as they pertain to specific individuals,” says DC managing partner J. Sedwick Sollers.
The Clement paycheck might raise a question for Obama solicitor general Elena Kagan: How badly does she want that rumored lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court? Associate justices make $208,100 a year.
This article first appeared in the September 2009 issue of The Washingtonian. For more articles from that issue, click here.
More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Party Photos
Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 as a staff writer, and became a senior editor in 2014. She was previously a reporter for Legal Times and the National Law Journal. She lives in Northeast DC with her husband, two dogs, and two cats.
Editors' Picks
Check Out the Inspiring Personal Style (And Killer Outfits) of Nine of the Most Fashionable People in DC Right Now
Would Amazon’s HQ2 Really Be Good for Washington?
8 Day Trips to Do Every Weekend This Fall
The Man Who Sued His Trolls
Most Popular
Kavanaugh’s Character Witness Once Wrote About His Family for Washingtonian. Check Out What His Brother Wrote in to Rebut Him.
I Am Horrified That Brett Kavanaugh Used Girls From My School as a Prop
Trump’s Golf Course Visits Shut Down the Potomac so Often, These Paddlers are Suing
The 100 Very Best Restaurants in Washington
We Ate at Three of the Worst-Rated DC Restaurants on Yelp. Here’s What Happened.
September 2018: Style Setters
Related
Federal Workers: Send Us Your Memos!
Washingtonian’s Best Photos of 2016
There Are Still Six Confederate Memorials Around DC. How’s That Possible?
This Nail Polish Line Is Just One More Example of Marketers Pigeonholing DC
More from News
Tech Titans 2018: Washington’s Top Tech Leaders
Washingtonian Today: Canoe Sue the President?
Trump’s Golf Course Visits Shut Down the Potomac so Often, These Paddlers are Suing
This New Political Board Game Is Like the DC Version of “Settlers of Catan”