Phoenix Silkensen ’27’s persistence in building connections at Big Law firm Katten has paid off. After meeting Katten’s legal recruiter during LLS’ Meet the Firms recruiting event in his first year, he continued networking with the firm until he ultimately landed his job as a summer associate in Katten’s private credit department. A research assistant to Transactional Lawyering Institute Director Stephen Kong, he is putting his business law savvy to the test as he reviews complex financing agreements.
How did you land your summer job?
I first connected with Katten through Loyola’s Meet the Firms event during the spring semester of my 1L year. At that event, I met Steven Garrett, a Loyola alumnus and Katten attorney, as well as Sam Keltie, Katten’s legal recruiter. I had great conversations with both of them and made an effort to stay in touch throughout the rest of the semester. I also attended Katten-hosted recruiting events and continued meeting attorneys at the firm, and each conversation made me more excited about the opportunity. Those connections and experiences helped me better understand the firm and definitely helped me throughout the interview process.
What was/is the most interesting part of your job?
There has been so much about the job that has been interesting, and I know there is still so much more for me to learn. This summer, I am working in Katten’s private credit department, where we typically assist lenders in complex financing transactions. The deals are fast-paced and involve many moving parts, which has made the learning process both challenging and exciting. One of the most interesting parts has been seeing how knowledge from one assignment carries over into the next. Each task gives me a better understanding of the deal structure, the documents involved, and how the different pieces fit together.
What has been your most challenging assignment thus far?
The most challenging assignments so far have involved preparing thorough but concise summaries of lengthy agreements. Some of these agreements are hundreds of pages long and include many defined terms, acronyms, and provisions that are new to me. At first, it can require a lot of flipping back and forth between definitions and operative provisions to fully understand how everything works together. Although that process can be difficult, it has also been one of the most valuable parts of my summer. Reviewing these documents closely has helped me become more familiar with the language of private credit transactions and has made me better prepared to discuss the deals with assigning associates and partners.
What new legal skill have you acquired during your summer job?
One important skill I have developed this summer is client and professional communication. I have learned how much thought goes into tailoring emails depending on the audience, whether the recipients are opposing counsel, attorneys within the firm, consultants, or executives at a client company. Email etiquette is something that can be discussed in the abstract, but it is really learned through practice, repetition, and feedback. This summer has helped me better understand how to communicate in a way that is clear, professional, and appropriate for the context.
What bit of legal knowledge have you been able to display?
Taking Business Associations in the fall and Business Planning this past spring has been very helpful in giving me a foundation for some of the deal terms and contract language I have encountered this summer. Business Planning, in particular, has felt like one of the most practical classes to take before entering a transactional summer position. While there is still a lot for me to learn, having that background has helped me feel more comfortable reading agreements, understanding basic transaction structures, and asking more informed questions.
How has Loyola helped you map your career path?
Loyola has been extremely helpful in helping me map my career path. I especially could not have navigated the 1L job search without my career advisor, Julie Kim. The first year of law school can feel overwhelming, and the job search adds another layer of stress. Being able to meet with the Career Development Office to talk through job postings, cover letters, firm events, interview preparation, and resume tailoring made the process much more manageable. Loyola also gave me opportunities to connect directly with attorneys and firms through events like Meet the Firms, which ultimately played a major role in helping me find my summer position.