Emily P. Hughes is a litigation partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Her practice focuses on counseling and defense of companies, individuals, and non-profits in civil and criminal matters, particularly where complex financial or tax matters are involved. Emily is a problem solver who is uniquely attuned to the needs and issues confronting closely-held enterprises, including private equity sponsors and their founders and shareholders in private companies.
Emily’s government and regulatory investigation experience includes representations before the IRS and DOJ, ranging from civil audits to grand jury proceedings. She has led multidisciplinary teams in complex and sensitive internal investigations. Emily is experienced in crisis management and has guided CEOs, senior executives, and Board of Directors through crisis preparedness, mitigation, and response in the context of both internal and governmental investigations.
Emily litigates on behalf of and defends corporations and individuals in matters involving offshore banking issues, tax reporting and treatment, voluntary disclosures, Section 965 transition tax disputes, securities and financial fraud, fiduciary duty claims, and tax disputes arising in the bankruptcy context.
She also has litigated and counseled on a range of disputes in closely-held business contexts, including the defense of founders’ business interests in founder break-ups and marital dissolution and partner business disputes.
Emily is the Co-Chair of the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) in Kirkland’s DC office and a member of the firmwide Diversity & Inclusion Committee. She also serves as a member of the firmwide Litigation Associate Review Committee and is chair of the DC office’s Practice Assistant Review Committee.
