Overview

We are an international law firm that serves a broad range of clients around the world in private equity, M&A and other corporate transactions, litigation, white collar and government disputes, restructurings and intellectual property matters. We offer the highest quality legal advice coupled with extraordinary, tailored service to deliver exceptional results to our clients and help their businesses succeed. We invest in the brightest legal talent and build dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their respective areas. And we believe in empowering our lawyers, encouraging entrepreneurialism, operating ethically and with integrity, and collaborating to bring our best to every engagement. These principles have guided us in building successful long-term partnerships with clients since our founding in 1909.
Founded:
1909
Person outline with Best Lawyers logo
Best Lawyers Recognized:
215

Rankings

"Law Firm of the Year" Awards

Star inside a segmented circle
2026 "Law Firm of the Year"
Banking and Finance Law

National

Tier
1
National Ranking
Antitrust Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Banking and Finance Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Commercial Litigation
Tier
1
National Ranking
Construction Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Copyright Law

Regional

Austin

Tier
1
Austin
Litigation - Intellectual Property
Tier
1
Austin
Litigation - Patent

Boston

Tier
1
Boston
Corporate Law
Tier
1
Boston
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier
1
Boston
Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
Tier
1
Boston
Tax Law

Rankings

"Law Firm of the Year" Awards

Star inside a segmented circle
2026 "Law Firm of the Year"
Banking and Finance Law

National

Tier
1
National Ranking
Antitrust Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Banking and Finance Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Commercial Litigation
Tier
1
National Ranking
Construction Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Copyright Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Corporate Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier
1
National Ranking
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Energy Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Litigation - Antitrust
Tier
1
National Ranking
Litigation - Bankruptcy
Tier
1
National Ranking
Litigation - Environmental
Tier
1
National Ranking
Litigation - Intellectual Property
Tier
1
National Ranking
Litigation - Patent
Tier
1
National Ranking
Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Tier
1
National Ranking
Litigation - Securities
Tier
1
National Ranking
Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Tier
1
National Ranking
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Tier
1
National Ranking
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Oil and Gas Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Patent Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Real Estate Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Securities Regulation
Tier
1
National Ranking
Tax Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Technology Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Trademark Law
Tier
1
National Ranking
Trusts and Estates
Tier
2
National Ranking
Environmental Law
Tier
2
National Ranking
Financial Services Regulation Law
Tier
2
National Ranking
Information Technology Law
Tier
2
National Ranking
Insurance Law
Tier
2
National Ranking
Mutual Funds Law
Tier
2
National Ranking
Project Finance Law
Tier
3
National Ranking
Appellate Practice
Tier
3
National Ranking
Communications Law
Tier
3
National Ranking
Litigation - Construction

Regional

Austin

Tier
1
Austin
Litigation - Intellectual Property
Tier
1
Austin
Litigation - Patent

Boston

Tier
1
Boston
Corporate Law
Tier
1
Boston
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier
1
Boston
Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
Tier
1
Boston
Tax Law
Tier
2
Boston
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Tier
3
Boston
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Tier
3
Boston
Insurance Law

Chicago

Tier
1
Chicago
Antitrust Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Banking and Finance Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Tier
1
Chicago
Commercial Litigation
Tier
1
Chicago
Construction Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Corporate Governance Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Corporate Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier
1
Chicago
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Insurance Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Litigation - Antitrust
Tier
1
Chicago
Litigation - Bankruptcy
Tier
1
Chicago
Litigation - Environmental
Tier
1
Chicago
Litigation - Intellectual Property
Tier
1
Chicago
Litigation - Patent
Tier
1
Chicago
Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Tier
1
Chicago
Litigation - Securities
Tier
1
Chicago
Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Tier
1
Chicago
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Tier
1
Chicago
Real Estate Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Securities Regulation
Tier
1
Chicago
Tax Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Technology Law
Tier
1
Chicago
Trusts and Estates
Tier
2
Chicago
Environmental Law
Tier
2
Chicago
Financial Services Regulation Law
Tier
2
Chicago
Information Technology Law
Tier
2
Chicago
Patent Law
Tier
3
Chicago
Litigation - Construction

Dallas/Fort Worth

Tier
1
Dallas/Fort Worth
Commercial Litigation
Tier
1
Dallas/Fort Worth
Corporate Law
Tier
1
Dallas/Fort Worth
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier
1
Dallas/Fort Worth
Environmental Law
Tier
1
Dallas/Fort Worth
Litigation - Antitrust
Tier
1
Dallas/Fort Worth
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier
1
Dallas/Fort Worth
Privacy and Data Security Law
Tier
2
Dallas/Fort Worth
Appellate Practice
Tier
2
Dallas/Fort Worth
Litigation - First Amendment
Tier
2
Dallas/Fort Worth
Venture Capital Law

Houston

Tier
1
Houston
Banking and Finance Law
Tier
1
Houston
Commercial Litigation
Tier
1
Houston
Corporate Law
Tier
1
Houston
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Tier
1
Houston
Energy Law
Tier
1
Houston
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Tier
1
Houston
Litigation and Controversy - Tax
Tier
1
Houston
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier
1
Houston
Oil and Gas Law
Tier
1
Houston
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier
1
Houston
Tax Law

Los Angeles

Tier
1
Los Angeles
Commercial Litigation
Tier
1
Los Angeles
Corporate Law
Tier
1
Los Angeles
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier
1
Los Angeles
Litigation - Intellectual Property
Tier
1
Los Angeles
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier
1
Los Angeles
Real Estate Law
Tier
1
Los Angeles
Tax Law
Tier
1
Los Angeles
Trademark Law
Tier
2
Los Angeles
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Tier
2
Los Angeles
Litigation - Patent

New York City

Tier
1
New York City
Banking and Finance Law
Tier
1
New York City
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier
1
New York City
Commercial Litigation
Tier
1
New York City
Copyright Law
Tier
1
New York City
Corporate Law
Tier
1
New York City
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier
1
New York City
Litigation - Bankruptcy
Tier
1
New York City
Litigation - Intellectual Property
Tier
1
New York City
Litigation - Patent
Tier
1
New York City
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Tier
1
New York City
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tier
1
New York City
Patent Law
Tier
1
New York City
Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
Tier
1
New York City
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Tier
1
New York City
Real Estate Law
Tier
1
New York City
Tax Law
Tier
1
New York City
Trademark Law
Tier
2
New York City
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Tier
2
New York City
Energy Law
Tier
2
New York City
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Tier
2
New York City
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier
3
New York City
Health Care Law
Tier
3
New York City
Mutual Funds Law

San Francisco

Tier
1
San Francisco
Commercial Litigation
Tier
1
San Francisco
Litigation - Patent

Utah

Tier
1
Utah
Commercial Litigation

Washington, D.C.

Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Antitrust Law
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Banking and Finance Law
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Commercial Litigation
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Energy Law
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Energy Regulatory Law
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Government Relations Practice
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
International Trade and Finance Law
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Litigation - Antitrust
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Litigation - Intellectual Property
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Litigation - Patent
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Litigation - Securities
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Mutual Funds Law
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Project Finance Law
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Securities Regulation
Tier
1
Washington, D.C.
Tax Law
Tier
2
Washington, D.C.
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Tier
2
Washington, D.C.
Communications Law
Tier
2
Washington, D.C.
Patent Law
Tier
3
Washington, D.C.
Litigation and Controversy - Tax

Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®

Kirkland & Ellis LLP proudly has 215 lawyers recognized for their outstanding professional performance in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. This peer-reviewed honor highlights individual excellence and directly qualifies the firm for consideration in the prestigious Best Law Firms rankings. For over four decades, Best Lawyers has been the gold standard for recognizing top legal talent, serving as the cornerstone for Best Law Firms awards. Learn more about our rigorous Best Lawyers research and selection process.
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Offices & Contacts

Los Angeles, CA
2049 Century Park East, Suite 3700
Los Angeles, CA 90067
United States
Los Angeles, CA
555 South Flower Street, Suite 3700
Los Angeles, CA 90071
United States
Palo Alto, CA
San Francisco, CA
Washington, DC
Miami, FL
Three Brickell City Centr, Suite 700
98 S.E. 7th Street
Miami, FL 33131
United States
Chicago, IL
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Salt Lake City, UT
Beijing, CN
58th Floor, China World Office Two
No.1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Beijing 100004
China: Global Firms
Shanghai, CN
11th Floor, HSBC Building, Shanghai IFC
8 Century Avenue, Pudong New District
Shanghai 200120
China: Global Firms
Central, HK
26th Floor, Gloucester Tower
The Landmark
Fifteen Queen's Road
Central
Hong Kong
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