Kirkland Adds Prominent Trial Lawyers Robert “Mike” Brock and F. Chadwick Morriss to Litigation Practice
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that leading trial lawyers Robert "Mike" Brock and F. Chadwick "Chad" Morriss have joined the Washington, D.C., office as partners in the Litigation Practice Group.
Messrs. Brock and Morriss join Kirkland from the Washington, D.C., office of Covington & Burling LLP, where Mr. Brock was a partner and senior trial counsel, and Mr. Morriss was of counsel. They have worked alongside Kirkland litigators for the last three years representing BP in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill litigation. Mr. Brock serves as lead trial counsel for BP.
"Mike has a well-deserved reputation as one of the top trial lawyers in the United States, especially in high-stakes matters," said Jeffrey C. Hammes, Chairman of Kirkland's Global Management Executive Committee. "Mike and Chad strengthen our already deep bench of accomplished trial lawyers, who have been involved in some of the most high-profile, complex cases of the last two decades, and will enhance our capacity to provide clients with the top-flight litigators they expect from Kirkland & Ellis."
Mr. Brock has tried cases in a wide variety of areas including antitrust, malpractice, toxic tort and other areas. In addition to his work for BP over the last three years, his practice during the past decade has focused on representing pharmaceutical and life sciences companies, including defending them in product liability lawsuits.
"Mike is a preeminent trial lawyer with an excellent courtroom presence with judges and juries," said Mark Filip, a litigation partner and member of the Firm's Global Management Executive Committee. "His work, on a variety of different types of cases — from energy, to pharmaceutical and life sciences, to products liability — makes him a perfect fit for Kirkland's practice and client base."
Mr. Brock is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. His trial performance has been highly praised and widely reported in the media. According to the Financial Times, one legal professional said that "in a courtroom full of top-tier legal talent," Mr. Brock was particularly impressive, delivering "one of the most methodical and skillful cross-examinations I have seen" in 25 years.
Mr. Brock is also recognized by various legal publications as a top trial lawyer. Chambers USA ranked him as a leading lawyer in Product Liability and Litigation: Trial Lawyers. His peers identify him as "one of the elite trial lawyers in the U.S." with a "great courtroom presence." He has also been honored by The Legal 500 U.S. as a "leading lawyer" in the areas of Product Liability & Mass Tort Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices and Energy: Litigation, and as a "National Star" by Benchmark Litigation.
Mr. Morriss has more than 25 years of trial experience and has served as lead counsel for corporate clients defending personal injury, wrongful death and fraud claims.
"Having tried more than 25 cases to verdict, Chad is an accomplished trial lawyer with an especially strong reputation in the pharmaceutical and life sciences area with respect to sales and marketing issues. We are excited to have him join our team," said Rick Godfrey, litigation partner and member of Kirkland's Global Management Executive Committee.
Mr. Morriss' practice currently focuses on representing pharmaceutical and life science companies defending product liability lawsuits, with a particular emphasis on sales and marketing issues. Mr. Morriss also plays an important role in the BP oil spill ligation and will continue that work at Kirkland. During his career, Mr. Morriss has represented various product manufacturers, professionals and businesses in product liability, fraud and other types of cases.
"We have come to know Mike and Chad well while working closely with them in recent years," said Mr. Filip. "Historically and presently, Kirkland has been home to many first-rate trial lawyers and we couldn't be more pleased to welcome Mike and Chad, two exceptional trial attorneys, to Kirkland."
Mr. Brock holds a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law and a B.S. from the University of Alabama. Mr. Morriss holds a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Alabama.
Kirkland & Ellis is a 1,600-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex litigation, dispute resolution and arbitration, intellectual property, corporate, tax and restructuring matters. The Firm has offices in Washington, D.C., Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Shanghai.
