Kirkland & Ellis Receives ESGR ‘Above and Beyond Award’

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that it has earned the Above and Beyond Award, presented by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). 

The Above and Beyond Award recognizes employers at the local level who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act by providing their Guard and Reserve employees with additional, non-mandated benefits such as differential or full pay to offset lost wages during military duty, extended health benefits and other similar benefits. 

In addition, Michael Slago, an associate director in Kirkland’s Risk Management Department, received the Patriot Act Award, presented to supervisors for support provided directly to a nominating service member and his or her family. 

“We are honored to accept this prestigious award from the ESGR,” said Leslie Smith, a partner in the Chicago office and member of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee. “We are proud of our attorneys and staff who serve or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and we are gratified to do all we can to support them and their families both in and out of the office.”

The awards were presented in Kirkland’s Chicago office at 11 a.m. CT, Friday, May 15. Each branch of the military was represented and distinguished attendees included Judge Alexander White, Supervising Judge in the Cook County Circuit Court Law Division and retired Marine JAG, and Al Lynch, one of only two living Illinois Congressional Medal of Honor recipients for his extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War. 

About the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
ESGR, a Department of Defense office, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment. ESGR is supported by a network of more than 4,700 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Volunteers, hailing from small business and industry, government, education and prior military service bring a vast wealth of experience to assist in serving employers, service members and their families.