Nicholas M. Ruge

Partner Litigation

Overview

Nick Ruge is a trial and appellate partner in Kirkland's Chicago office who represents companies in complex commercial cases and bet-the-company litigation. Nick’s practice focuses on False Claims Act cases, contract disputes, antitrust and class actions, and his clients include some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and life science companies.

Nick has deep experience winning cases at every stage of litigation, as both plaintiff and defendant. As plaintiff, Nick recently argued and won summary judgment on liability for a minority member of a closely held corporation on claims of breach of contract and fiduciary duties related to mishandling of LLC assets in a $1 billion+ real estate empire. Earlier this year, Nick helped Allergan (AbbVie) to defeat a massive False Claims Act case at summary judgment, where the relator alleged a nationwide, 15-year scheme to defraud the government through alleged kickbacks and off-label promotion.

Before joining the Firm, Nick served as a law clerk to the Honorable Harry T. Edwards of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

More

Thought Leadership

Publications 

Note, The Substantive Waiver Doctrine in Employment Arbitration Law, 130 HARV. L. REV. 2205 (2017)

Recent Case, Fifth Circuit Strikes Down Voter ID Law Based on Disparate Impact, 129 HARV. L. REV. 1128 (2016)

Recognition

Kirkland & Ellis Pro Bono Service Award, 2018–2020

Kirkland & Ellis Pro Bono All Star Award, 2018

Memberships & Affiliations

Ambassadors Board, Legal Aid Chicago

Lawyers in the Classroom, Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2017Illinois

Courts

  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Education

  • Harvard Law SchoolJ.D.cum laude2017

    Harvard Law Review, Articles Editor

    Harvard Immigration Response Initiative, Litigation Team

  • Northwestern UniversityB.A., American Studies & Political Sciencesumma cum laude2012

    Phi Beta Kappa