Department profile

Litigation: General Commercial

USA Guide 2026 : Illinois

Kirkland & Ellis

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Ranked Individuals

About

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

For more information about Kirkland & Ellis’ practices, please visit kirkland.com/services.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Litigation: General Commercial - Illinois

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Kirkland & Ellis has a market-leading commercial litigation practice characterized by exceptional bench strength and breadth of expertise. It also possesses expert strength in white-collar crime, with particular renown for its FCPA practice, and a sophisticated securities offering. It represents clients from a variety of sectors, including financial services, energy and pharmaceuticals.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

Kirkland & Ellis represented GATX Corporation and its subsidiary, General American Marks Company, in litigation arising out of the derailment of Norfolk Southern Train 32N.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

The team is very commercial and understand the broader map of how things impact the business. They are not making decisions in silo, but thinking of the bigger picture.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Kirkland lawyers stand out for their diligent, insightful and results-oriented approach. The best lawyers go to Kirkland and it shows.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Their knowledge and ability to litigate is top notch. Every lawyer there is bright, talented and thinks strategically. They are who you want in your corner.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
K&E's team understands our business well and gives sound strategic and legal advice.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
They have an incredibly deep bench of high-performing players.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Senior Statespeople
Senior Statespeople
Robert J Kopecky
Robert Kopecky is widely recommended for his expert representation of issuers, accounting firms and financial institutions facing securities derivative suits and class actions.
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Band 1
Band 1
Hariklia Karis
Hariklia Karis has extensive expertise in trials, with considerable experience handling cases arising in the product liability sphere.
She is fantastic in all respects.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 1
Band 1
James Hurst
James Hurst has deep expertise within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, drawing on longstanding experience as a civil trial lawyer.
James is the single best trial lawyer I have ever worked with. He digs into every detail of the case himself, understands the case strategically and is available for both complex and simple questions.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 1
Band 1
Mark Filip
Mark Filip is a much-esteemed litigator with impressive depth of expertise in commercial disputes. His top-notch practice includes recent experience in securities fraud claims and bankruptcy disputes.
Mark is up there as one of the best of the best. He is the absolute pinnacle of his field. He has such a humble and down-to-earth approach too that puts clients instantly at ease, while being a brilliant lawyer and strategist.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
He is super smart.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Mark has such gravitas and such incredible experience. He has been a federal judge and is one of those US lawyers you'd put in front of any of your CEOs or general counsel and he always has something that will make me feel like I'm in good hands.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Mark is just a brilliant tactician. He has deep understanding of the courts, regulatory bodies and government apparatus, and is in a unique position to predict results and speak truth to his client.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 1
Band 1
Renee Smith
Renee Smith is highlighted for her adroit representation of consumer product and automotive manufacturers in complex product liability litigation and class actions.
Renee is aggressive, candid and smart. She is proactive and always looking for ways to resolve problems.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 2
Band 2
Andrew Kassof
Andrew Kassof is particularly noted for his expertise handling False Claims Act and product liability related litigation, as part of a broad commercial disputes practice. He is frequently sought after by major life sciences sector players.
He is a rockstar.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 2
Band 2
John Hartmann
John Hartmann represents notable corporates, directors and officers and professional services firms in shareholder disputes and regulatory enforcement. He is further skilled in defending directors and officers.
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Band 2
Band 2
Leslie M Smith
Leslie Smith represents notable corporates in complex multidistrict product liability litigation and toxic exposure cases.
Leslie is a very trusted partner in terms of the strategy as well as trying cases.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Donna Welch
Donna Welch is an accomplished commercial litigator with a wide range of disputes experience, including RICO and breach of contract suits.
Donna offers a comprehensive and holistic view of the case and her client.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
She is prepared, diligent and responsive. I can't say enough good things about her.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Gabor Balassa
Gabor Balassa defends pharmaceutical companies, financial institutions and manufacturers in a variety of litigation, including tortious interference and contractual disputes.
Gabor is strategic and always two or three moves ahead. He is wonderful on his feet, but also a strategically excellent project manager.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Gabor has made me a better lawyer. He knows the case and every fine detail and wields that knowledge and turns it into power. He is gifted in making nuanced arguments.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
He is always available and always open to other thoughts and views to inform his advice. We appreciate his pragmatic approach and his ability. He is an excellent adviser.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 4
Band 4
Martin L. Roth
Martin Roth is an experienced trial lawyer with a diverse litigation practice that ranges from M&A disputes, employment matters, privacy class actions and many other commercial disputes across a wide variety of industries.
Martin is calm, prepared and measured. He is a really strong litigator.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
He gives incredibly compelling arguments before judges and has an innate ability to predict how things will end up.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Up and Coming
Up and Coming
Diana Watral
Diana Watral is recognized for her growing experience representing notable pharmaceutical companies in complex litigation, such as product liability claims and antitrust cases.
She is a rockstar and an up-and-coming star.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
She is whip smart.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Up and Coming
Up and Coming
Rebecca Fitzpatrick
Rebecca Fitzpatrick is a trial lawyer with broad experience in all aspects of litigation, particularly focusing on fact and science-intensive commercial litigation and product liability cases.
Rebecca is a rising star. She is smart and has in-depth knowledge.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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