Kirkland & Ellis partner Daniel Wolf managed to escape Israel with his family, following unexpected attacks launched by Hamas; safe extraction was facilitated by his law firm, Wolf conveyed in an interview.
Wolf was about to visit a local synagogue in Jerusalem when he heard the air defense sirens. Startled, he returned to his apartment and gathered his family in a fortified safe room. The safe room was equipped with a geolocation-based app that issues alerts of incoming rockets and missiles.
Having served in the Israeli army after finishing high school in the US, Wolf is accustomed to the country’s Iron Dome defense system. The situation, however, felt different this time since it involved his family. After the attacks, his nephews also joined the country’s army.
Following the launch of missile strikes, Wolf and his family were stranded in Israel for three days. But with the help of Kirkland, they, along with roughly 20 other people — including fellow firm lawyers and their families — were able to evacuate on flights arranged by the firm. The firm engaged all available resources to guarantee the safe return of its employees and their families.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 1,400 deaths in Israel and 3,700 in Gaza, nearing the two-week mark. It also profoundly impacted US law school campuses and the legal industry. For instance, Winston & Strawn revoked a job offer for a student blaming Israel for the attacks, while Davis Polk & Wardwell rescinded three job offers from Harvard and Columbia students signing onto statements that solely held Israel responsible for the violence.
Daniel Wolf, known for his extensive work as an M&A lawyer, including advising on a $90 billion acquisition, shared his experiences in a LinkedIn post amidst these challenging times. Confessing that there is no correct answer to the ongoing conflict between nations, he expressed his consciousness of the fact that a war never leads to wins. Despite being back in New York, the reality of the conflict still strikes close to home as his family and friends remain in Israel.
Work has provided a much-needed distraction amidst these times, Wolf admitted, as he continues juggling board meetings and negotiation sessions since his return.