Evan Kass Wants to Make the Biggest Impact He Can at Ares Management

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Evan Kass knew he wasn’t interested in going to work at a law firm as soon as he started law school. He’d already been offered a role in Washington, DC, working on behalf of a congressperson he’d worked for in college, and he figured if he was ultimately going into politics, a law education was probably the right next step. Kass had turned down that full-time role in DC to go to law school, but he also knew that the Big Law life wasn’t what he wanted. In short, Kass knew an awful lot more about himself than most heading into law school.

“From the day I started law school, I imagined going in-house as soon as possible,” Kass says. “It was a pretty uncommon move at the time, but I just didn’t want to wait to make a difference.”

Kass knew that if he pursued a big law career, his first few years would be spent working on minute details and small parts of much bigger matters. When it came to his political priorities in college, Kass was a John Rawls “maxi-min” style-thinker: how could he maximize helping the least-advantaged of society the most? In his own approach to his practice, Kass wanted to be able to affect as much of an impact in an accelerated manner, not to appease his ego, but to feel of use.

Going in-house was that chance to be part of a bigger picture early in his career.

“I wanted to be able to get my hands dirty immediately,” Kass says. “I didn’t want to be around the edges of making a difference.”

Kass came to Ares in 2020 after establishing his in-house credentials practicing litigation and employment at Endeavor and a smaller private equity firm. His brief stint in big law further confirmed what the lawyer already knew: he was made to be embedded within a business, allowing him to make a meaningful difference across an entire organization, rather than siloed within a firm.

At Ares, Kass found a culture that both mirrored and challenged his practice. The global alternative investment manager’s expansion has been rapid and well-noted.

“All you have to do is Google the press releases,” Kass jokes. “When I started, Ares had dabbled in M&A, but over the last five years, we have almost tripled in size, and a significant portion of that is due to acquisitional growth. When I say triple in size, that’s assets under management, that’s headcount, and that’s office locations. It’s across the board.”

Kass has experience in high-stakes integrations, multifaceted employment and litigation challenges, and employment work intertwined with complex diligence requirements. But this kind of M&A activity was advanced, and he welcomed the opportunity. The attorney says the movement of individuals, new employment agreements, ensuring consistency, and the international nature of so much of the work has widened Kass’s already substantial orbit to include work councils and statutory transfer mechanisms across Europe and beyond.

Over the last five years, Kass says the entrepreneurial culture at Ares has encouraged responsible risk-taking and provided legal and HR professionals latitude to move fast while supporting team members growing into new areas.

“This is an organization that doesn’t mind you making decisions, provided they are thoughtful and strategic,” Kass says. “You can’t thrive here if you’re prone to analysis paralysis. I think that creates a highly engaged work culture that feels connected to Ares’ supportive and flexible leadership.”

Kass’s mission continues. After all these years, his goal is still the same as it was when he left law school. How can he become an even more meaningful part of an organization?

“I think about that a lot,” Kass admits. “Having partnered with HR over the years, there’s something meaningful being the one who gets that first call when a business challenge arises. Having the opportunity to help proactively solve a problem before it becomes a bigger issue is very gratifying.  It’s how we make an impact and provide value for the company and our colleagues.”

Importantly, Kass’s growth continues. The attorney is driven by a relentless desire to deliver his best by supporting employees through real-world challenges. With Ares continuing its growth, he is convinced that practice rooted in collaboration, trust, and self-awareness will help to build new connections and integrate new parts of the organization into the broader Ares family.

“This is a special place, and they’ve earned my loyalty by treating me well, giving me great opportunities to grow, and always operating with integrity,” Kass says. “My goal is to make as big an impact as I possibly can here in my role every day.”

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