David Seligman earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law in 1996, graduating fifth in his class. During his time at Miami Law, he served as an editor of the University of Miami Law Review, was inducted into the Order of the Coif, received several book awards, and was awarded a Dean’s Honor Full Scholarship.
During his 25-year career at Kirkland & Ellis, Seligman focused on U.S. and international corporate restructurings, cross-border insolvencies, and out-of-court reorganizations for multinational corporations, including high-profile cases for United Airlines, Calpine Corporation, TWA, Caesars Entertainment, and Tropicana Gaming. Consistently recognized in Chambers USA as a leading restructuring lawyer and named a Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year," he has also taught advanced restructuring courses and lectured at top institutions such as Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, NYU Stern School of Business, Tuck School of Business (Dartmouth), and University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. His distinguished legal practice exemplifies the scholarly excellence and real-world impact of a University of Miami School of Law education.
What aspects of the curriculum or faculty had the most significant impact on your legal education and career trajectory?
I was fortunate to have professors who significantly shaped my legal education. Professor Minnette Massey, my civil procedure professor, instilled the importance of preparation and accountability—lessons that stayed with me throughout my career. Dean Sam Thompson gave me an early window into a sophisticated corporate law practice working on bet-the-company issues. Judge Jay Cristol's Chapter 11 seminar solidified my decision to choose corporate restructuring as my career path. And my moot court competition experience taught me a different but equally valuable lesson about honesty and integrity. Looking back, each experience offered something distinct: how to prepare, how to practice, how to choose a career path, and which values should guide that path.
How did your education at the University of Miami School of Law prepare you for your career?
Miami gave me the space to master complex material, develop intellectual discipline, and take responsibility for my own professional development. It also facilitated my exploration of specialties before entering practice, which was very helpful for a young lawyer. Between an introductory bankruptcy course and an advanced reorganization seminar, I entered practice with a foundation in restructuring that many new lawyers had encountered only briefly. That foundation gave me a head start and allowed me to focus more intently on the combination of complex legal issues, business problems, and practical problem-solving that restructuring requires. Miami also taught me that there isn't just one path to success. My classmates had diverse backgrounds and strengths, but the common thread was commitment and hard work.
What opportunities or connections did you gain at the law school, and how did they influence your career?
One of my most consequential opportunities at Miami resulted from on-campus recruiting, in which Jenner & Block interviewed me for its Miami office and offered me a summer clerkship. Shortly before I started, that office closed and I was invited to spend the summer in Chicago instead. I had grown up in Miami and had never been to the Midwest -- or attended a Cubs game! I loved that Chicago summer experience and ultimately received an associate offer in both litigation and restructuring. I sought Dean Thompson's advice, and he encouraged me to accept the restructuring offer. That decision ultimately set me on the path that led a few years later to a 25-year career at Kirkland practicing at the highest levels on some of the biggest Chapter 11 cases in the country. My adjunct professors also modeled the value of giving back and inspired me to teach and lecture for the next generation of lawyers.
