Overview

Charles Kalil’s practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, government and internal investigations, litigation and counseling clients through sensitive matters. He defends corporations, boards and executives in criminal and other government investigations and enforcement proceedings. Charles also provides advice to corporations on a variety of internal controls, ethics and compliance matters.

Charles has deep experience in a broad array of industries, including recently in pharmaceutical, medical device, infant nutrition, automotive, heavy manufacturing, petrochemical, energy, consumer goods, food and beverage, agricultural, technology and many others.

Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Charles served as an Assistant United States Attorney for more than four years in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit. As a federal prosecutor Charles investigated and prosecuted complex white collar criminal matters, public corruption, healthcare fraud, financial and securities fraud, environmental matters, money laundering, tax and other types of crime. Many of his cases were international in nature, requiring significant investigation and coordination with government agencies and authorities domestic and abroad. Charles tried several cases in federal court, and served as a lead prosecutor on one of the largest corruption cases in the history of the automotive industry.

As a federal prosecutor Charles worked closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the criminal investigative divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Labor, Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security. He coordinated certain matters with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division and also worked closely with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement on several matters.

Before becoming a federal prosecutor Charles began his legal career at Kirkland & Ellis LLP where he represented corporations in a broad array of white collar, antitrust and general litigation matters.

While at Kirkland, Charles spent six months seconded to a large pharmaceutical corporation’s legal, ethics and compliance and government investigations offices. During his secondment he provided advice and training to corporate executives and employees regarding anti-corruption laws, cross-border investigations and due diligence and other legal matters.

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Thought Leadership

Publications

“DOJ and SEC crypto exchange enforcement in the United States,” Americas Investigations Review 2025, Global Investigations Review, August 2024

Recognition

Named in Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under Hot List” in 2020, 2022–2024.

Named an “Illinois Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine in 2014 and 2015.

Recipient of numerous government service performance awards recognizing successes on complex and high profile matters and trials. 

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2008Illinois

Education

  • Georgetown University Law CenterJ.D.cum laude2008
    Managing Editor, Georgetown Journal of International Law
  • University of MichiganB.A., Political Sciencewith Highest Honors2005