EXHIBIT 5.1
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                                November 19, 2001


Cable Design Technologies Corporation
Foster Plaza 7
661 Andersen Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15220

               Re: Shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value
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Ladies and Gentlemen:

               We are acting as counsel to Cable Design Technologies
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Registrant"), in connection with the
preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") pertaining to the
registration of a proposed offering of up to 1,800,000 shares of the
Registrant's Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock")
pursuant to the Registrant's 2001 Long-Term Performance Incentive Plan.

               We have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other
instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion,
including the following: (i) Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the
Bylaws of the Registrant, each as amended to the date hereof; and (ii) certain
resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Registrant. In addition, we
have made such other and further investigations as we have deemed necessary to
enable us to express the opinions hereinafter set forth.

               Based upon the foregoing and having regard to legal
considerations that we deem relevant, and subject to the comments and
qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that the Common Stock has been
duly authorized.

               For purposes of this opinion, we have with your permission made
the following assumptions, in each case without independent verification: (i)
the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (ii) the
conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, (iii)
the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies,
(iv) the genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all documents in
connection with which this opinion is rendered, (v) the authority of such
persons signing all documents on behalf of the parties thereto and (vi) the due
authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto.

               We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede
that we are within the category

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of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or
the Rules and Regulations promulgated thereunder.

               We do not find it necessary for purposes of this opinion to
cover, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the
securities or "Blue Sky" laws of the various states to the offering and sale of
the Common Stock.

               This opinion shall be limited to the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware.

               This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of
the Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or
otherwise relied upon for any other purpose.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                /s/ Kirkland & Ellis


                                                KIRKLAND & ELLIS

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