Jon A Ballis

Practice Areas

Jon Ballis is Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee, where he is responsible for establishing and executing upon Kirkland’s strategic priorities, including advancing business initiatives and promoting a culture of elite performance, collaboration, collegiality and continual improvement. He has long been recognized as one of the leading private equity attorneys in the United States, with Chambers USA recognizing him in every edition since 2004 and The Best Lawyers in America listing him in every edition since 2006. Private Equity Manager named him one of the top 10 private equity lawyers in the country and The Legal 500 U.S. selected Jon as one of only 10 private equity lawyers for its elite “Leading Lawyers” list.

Clients describe Jon as a “go-to guy in the marketplace,” a lawyer with “stellar legal judgement,” and someone with the ability “to take a big picture, strategic perspective on transactions.”

During his career, Jon has handled matters on behalf of many of the leading private equity firms in the country, including Bain, Blackstone, Centerbridge, Cerberus, Hellman & Friedman, KKR, Madison Dearborn, Pritzker Group, Silver Lake, TPG, and Thomas H. Lee.

Professional Memberships

Civic Committee, Commercial Club of Chicago, Economic Club, Legal Aid Chicago Justice Circle, Vision for Tomorrow Foundation.

Personal

Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1994; Lehigh University, B.A., with High Honors, 1991.