Overview

Sierra is extremely talented. She has the ability to make complex matters simple. - Chambers USA (Client Quotes)

Sierra Elizabeth is a nationally recognized trial lawyer in Kirkland’s Los Angeles office. An innovative and formidable litigator, Sierra has extensive jury trial experience in high-stakes lawsuits involving product liability and mass torts, intellectual property, and other commercial disputes. Since 2020, Sierra has tried and won four bet-the-company jury trials, serving as lead counsel in some of the country’s most notable civil litigations. With billions of dollars in exposure, these wins include both plaintiff-side and defense verdicts and settlements. Her roster of clients includes 3M, BP, Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Constellation Brands, General Motors LLC, Eli Lilly, Live Person, Inc., among others.

She has been repeatedly recognized as a leading trial attorney by numerous legal and business publications. Sierra is ranked by Chambers USA, Law360, and has been profiled by The American Lawyer and has been highlighted in The Am Law Litigation Daily’s “Litigators of the Week,” feature, twice. Sierra has received extensive media coverage including in The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and the National Law Journal. Additionally, she is recognized as one of California’s “Top Women Lawyers,” by the The Daily Journal and as one of “Los Angeles’ Minority Leaders of Influence,” by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers,” and has appeared as a guest legal correspondent for CNN Headline News.

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Thought Leadership

Press Mentions

“They’ve Got Next: Consumer Litigation Fresh Face Sierra Elizabeth,” Bloomberg Law, February 28, 2022

Q&A, “‘I Love to Try Cases.’ Sierra Elizabeth Tackled 2 Very Different Pandemic-Era Jury Trials,” The Recorder, July 30, 2021

“Rising Star: Kirkland & Ellis' Sierra Elizabeth,” Law360, June 7, 2021 

Q&A, “How Kirkland Partner Sierra Elizabeth Balances Clients and Her Own Clothing Line,” Reuters Legal, April 2, 2021 

Q&A, “Trial Recess: Kirkland's Sierra Elizabeth on Unity Amid Crisis,” Law360, May 4, 2020

Recognition

Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for Product Liability, Mass Tort And Class Action - Defense: Toxic Tort, 2024

Recognized by Chambers USA for Litigation: General Commercial, 2024

Named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s list of “Top 100 Lawyers,” 2024

Recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a Leader of Influence for Litigators & Trial Attorneys, 2021, 2024

Recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a “Future Star,” 2024

Named to Benchmark Litigation's “40 & Under Hot List,” 2021–2024

Recognized by Chambers USA as “Up and Coming” for Litigation: General Commerical, 2023

Named to Daily Journal’s list of “Top 40 Under 40,” 2023

Recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of Los Angeles' Minority Leaders of Influence, 2021–2023

Named to Insider's list of “Rising Stars of the Courtroom,” 2022

Recommended by The Legal 500 U.S. for General Commercial Disputes, 2022

Recommended by The Legal 500 U.S. for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Consumer Products, 2022

Named to Savoy's “Most Influential Black Lawyers,” 2022, 2024

Recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a Women of Influence: Attorney, 2022  

Named “Litigator of the Week” by The Am Law Litigation Daily, 2021 

Named to Law360’s list of Top Attorneys Under 40, 2021 

Named among the Daily Journal’s list of “Top Women Lawyers” in California, 2021–2022

Named in The National Bar Association's list of 40 Under 40: Nation’s Best Advocates, 2020

Memberships & Affiliations

Member of the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) Global Advisory Board

Member of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyer’s Association

Member of the John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles

Co-chair of Kirkland’s Racial and Ethnic Diversity Subcommittee

Member of Kirkland’s Firmwide Diversity & Inclusion Committee

Kirkland ALLSA Student Group Liason for USC and UCLA Law

Kirkland African-American Affinity Group Coordinator Los Angeles

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • California

Courts

  • Supreme Court of California
  • State Court of Chatham County (pro hac vice)
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (pro hac vice)
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of California

Education

  • Duke University School of LawJ.D.cum laude

    Staff Editor, Duke Law Review

    Children and Education Law Clinic

  • Duke Graduate SchoolM.A., Psychology
  • University of MichiganB.A., Psychology; Crime and Justice Minor

    All-American for the women’s track team

    Point guard for the women’s basketball team