Paul Mower is a litigation partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses on complex government and internal investigations, civil and criminal litigation, and trials. With more than a decade of experience as a federal prosecutor, Paul has successfully tried over a dozen cases and litigated multiple appeals.
Prior to joining Kirkland, Paul served for more than seven years in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago. As an Assistant United States Attorney, he investigated and prosecuted complex federal crimes involving violence, narcotics, fraud, organized crime, public corruption, racketeering and national security. He regularly advised and coordinated with several federal investigative agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service and the Internal Revenue Service. As a Deputy Chief, he supervised, trained and mentored subordinate prosecutors by providing substantive training, developing investigative strategies and reviewing work product, often in reactive, time-sensitive matters. As a Regional Director of the Department of Justice Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, Paul also oversaw attorneys from 13 different federal districts in six states in the identification, investigation and prosecution of regional, national and transnational criminal organizations most responsible for United States drug trafficking, violence, terrorism, money laundering and human smuggling.
Before becoming an Assistant United States Attorney, Paul served as a law clerk to federal judges appointed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He also served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. As a judge advocate, he prosecuted military misconduct in dozens of felony-level courts-martial, most commonly in sensitive cases involving special victims. Based upon his superior performance, he was twice selected as the Eastern Regional Prosecutor of the Year. As a Special Assistant United States Attorney for both the District of South Carolina and Middle District of Georgia, he simultaneously prosecuted civilian crimes committed aboard multiple military installations in two states. He also deployed in support of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Crisis Response, Africa, where he provided command advice in areas of operational law, military law, military justice, administrative and civil law, and ethics.
In 2021, Paul was selected amongst professionals from Chicago’s business, cultural, civic and academic sectors to participate in the Chicago Counsil on Global Affairs Emerging Leaders Program. He continues to serve in the United States Marine Corps Reserve as a judge advocate, civil affairs officer, civil-military operations planner, and information officer. He has previously supported military exercises in both Thailand and Jordan and currently serves as a Reserve Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for 2d Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
