Prerak “Pre” Shah is a litigation partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Pre's practice focuses on advising companies and executives facing investigations, enforcement actions and high-stakes litigation involving state attorneys general across the country. Drawing on his experience at senior levels of state and federal government, he helps clients navigate matters at the intersection of law, business and politics. He also represents clients in federal, congressional and internal investigations, as well as other complex civil disputes.
Before entering private practice, Pre served as Senior Counsel to the Attorney General of Texas, where he advised the Attorney General directly on the most consequential legal and policy issues facing the state. He supervised landmark litigation and enforcement actions, oversaw sensitive investigations and helped craft the state’s legal strategy in cases with nationwide impact. He also worked closely with attorneys general across the country on multistate investigations and enforcement actions involving consumer protection, antitrust, data privacy, healthcare, the environment and other regulatory issues.
Pre later served as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas—where he led one of the nation’s largest U.S. Attorney’s Offices and oversaw significant criminal and civil enforcement matters—and held several other senior positions at the U.S. Department of Justice. He also served as Chief of Staff and Chief Counsel to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, advising on major legal and policy matters and helping lead congressional investigations, hearings and judicial confirmations. He personally spearheaded the selection, nomination and confirmation of over 20 federal judges in Texas and also worked on the confirmation of over 150 federal judges nationwide.
