Alistair D. Blacklock

Partner Litigation

Bay Area – San Francisco +1 415 439 4327

Alistair D. Blacklock

Overview

Alistair Blacklock is a litigation partner in Kirkland’s Bay Area office. His practice focuses on litigating and resolving complex disputes, including multidistrict litigations, contested bankruptcy proceedings, appeals and confidential arbitrations. Alistair has counseled tech, energy, healthcare and private equity clients in a variety of substantive areas, including antitrust and unfair competition, financial and accounting, mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts and shareholder litigation. He also advises directors and officers on litigation risk assessments and corporate governance matters.

Alistair maintains an active pro bono practice, including representing indigent clients in civil rights litigation and immigration matters. In 2021, Alistair led a team that helped an Afghan translator for the U.S. military and his family escape persecution by the Taliban and relocate to the United States, for which he was recognized as “Excellent Pro Bono Attorney” by the International Refugee Assistance Project.

From 2025 to 2026, Alistair worked as a Deputy City Attorney for the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office. In that role, he represented the City and County of San Francisco in civil litigation in state and federal courts, routinely appearing as first chair in hearings and contested proceedings.

Representing a private equity firm in a nationwide antitrust multidistrict litigation involving its portfolio company's software services.

Represented a national pharmacy chain and 119 of its affiliates in their ongoing Chapter 11 proceedings.
Represented an energy generator in an appeal before the Supreme Court of Texas arising from the 2021 Winter Storm Uri's impact on Texas's electrical market.

Represented a private equity firm in connection with a putative shareholder class action brought by former shareholders in Delaware Chancery arising from the take-private acquisition of a California-based enterprise software company.

Represented an international oil and gas company to resolve threatened litigation in connection with the client’s successful sale of its interest in a joint venture.

Represented a manufacturing company facing massive mass tort liabilities in Chapter 11 proceedings.

Represented a telecommunications company in connection with its Chapter 11 proceedings and related securities and employment disputes.

Represented a large regional aviation leasing company in its Chapter 11 proceedings.

Represented an energy generator in a bankruptcy trial concerning the pricing of energy during the 2021 Texas winter storm.

Represented a tech company in its response to a government antitrust investigation.*

Represented the special committee of the board of a media company to investigate claims asserted by shareholders in connection with derivative litigation.*

*Prior to joining Kirkland

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Thought Leadership

Publications

Co-Author, “Akorn v. Fresenius: Has a Material Change in Delaware M&A Jurisprudence Occurred?,” The M&A Lawyer, vol. 22, no. 10, 2018

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • California
  • New York

Courts

  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California

Education

  • New York University School of LawJ.D.2018
    Review of Law & Social Change
  • New York University Abu DhabiSocial Research and Public Policycum laude2014
    Phi Beta Kappa