It usually doesn't go this way. A partner at one of the world's largest and richest law firms leaving for a smaller specialty operation. But Christine Payne, a litigation partner and 13-year veteran of Kirkland & Ellis, has switched gears and taken a role as a partner at Redgrave.

Payne, who co-chaired Kirkland's e-discovery committee, will be working out of Redgrave's Chicago office.

“Christine's impressive experience is a tremendous addition to our firm and we are excited about her contributions to our strategic planning and growth,” managing partner Jonathan Redgrave said in a statement.

“When it comes to e-discovery, there is simply no better firm than Redgrave. I'm extremely excited to be joining this team. I plan to hit the ground running, focusing on innovation for our clients,” Payne said.

Payne said that innovation would focus on thinking about e-discovery from a long-term standpoint. She said that the level of technology and sophistication surrounding e-discovery means it can be a source of strategic opportunities, not just a tactical necessity.

Jonathan Redgrave said that Payne's arrival “coincides with the significant expansion of our team, which is being driven by the fact that our clients, more than ever, need top-of-the-line counsel to advise on e-discovery as well as emerging issues related to new technologies, data privacy and information law.”

Redgrave LLP has made a few new additions in 2019, adding former Weil, Gotshal & Manges partner Adam Cohen in February and Karin Jenson, a former reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and national lead for e-discovery at Baker & Hostetler, in April.

Opened in 2010, Redgrave has grown along with the amount of data that law firms need to tackle in discovery. The firm, which also boasts expertise in information governance, data privacy and data security matters, now has eight offices in the United States.

That said, Redgrave is a significant change in scale from 2,300-lawyer Kirkland, which clocked in at No. 1 on the Am Law 100 this year, with revenue of $3.757 billion and profits per equity partner of $5.037 million.

“While the small-firm format is different, it has the same basic concept where it wants to be the best in the industry,” Payne said.

According to Payne, Kirkland's other e-discovery leader, Jim Mutchnik, will stay on and work with a new co-chair.

Payne had been at Kirkland for her entire professional legal career, joining straight out of law school in 2006.

“We appreciate Christine's contributions to the firm and wish her success in the future,” a spokesperson for Kirkland said in an email.

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