Overview

John Kabealo is a partner in the International Trade and National Security Practice Group in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. John’s practice focuses on U.S. national security regulatory processes, including with respect to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), among others.

Prior to joining Kirkland, John founded a globally recognized boutique law firm concentrating on U.S. national security regulatory processes, with clients including multinational asset managers, public and private companies, defense contractors and startups.

John has successfully presided over some of the largest and most complex transactions to be approved by CFIUS and DCSA, and he is frequently praised for his ability to create novel solutions to obtain regulatory clearances. John has been recognized by Chambers USA and Chambers Global as one of the top CFIUS attorneys in the world, having received a Band 2 ranking in 2024. He is also regularly quoted in leading publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Marketplace and MLex.

John is a senior advisor, U.S./Transatlantic to the CELIS Institute, where he plays a pivotal role in advancing global thought leadership on investment screening mechanisms, and through which numerous governments in developed and emerging markets have sought his analysis on their investment screening policies. He has also spoken at American Conference Institute conferences on export controls and classified information requirements. His articles have appeared in leading industry publications such as The M&A Lawyer, Transaction Advisors and Law360.

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Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • District of Columbia
  • New York

Education

  • University of Virginia School of LawJ.D.2007
    Editor-in-Chief, Virginia Law Weekly
  • Princeton UniversityA.B., Politics2003
    Varsity Football