Jon Henes, a former Kirkland & Ellis bankruptcy lawyer, has reinvented himself as a power broker connecting elite law firms with top legal talent. His firm C Street Advisory has become the industry's whisperer, facilitating multimillion-dollar moves for lawyers specializing in corporate restructuring. With annual pay guarantees exceeding $10 million for sought-after specialists, Henes is at his professional zenith.

Henes' transformation comes after his 2021 ambitions for political influence and boardroom advising foundered. His diversity and inclusion practice failed to gain traction, and C Street pivoted to communications services for Chapter 11 cases. The firm now manages relations for high-profile bankruptcies including WeWork and Saks Group, challenging established players like Joele Frank and FTI Consulting. His background as a top lawyer at Kirkland & Ellis gives him unique credibility in the market.

His biggest coup was helping David Nemecek, his former colleague, secure a near-$30 million per year deal at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. This move, along with Henes' advisory work, has fueled a bidding war for top restructuring talent as firms abandon lockstep pay models. With Kirkland surpassing $10 billion in annual revenue and partners averaging $11 million in 2025, the competition for rainmakers has intensified. Henes' "law firm optimization" practice provides management consulting reports to firm executives, naturally leading to talent matchmaking as firms seek to gain an edge in the lucrative restructuring market.