Kirkland & Ellis Remembers George Javaras

We are saddened at the passing of our partner, teacher and beloved friend, George Javaras. George was a partner in the Tax Practice Group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP for 37 years, recognized as one of the leading tax practitioners in Chicago in the 2004 edition of Chambers USA’s, America's Leading Lawyers for Business. Described by Chambers as "one of the country's leading lights" and perhaps "the premier tax lawyer in the USA," George was renowned for his involvement in structuring a variety of multi-billion dollar acquisitions and dispositions.

"George was a brilliant man, knowledgeable in so many areas, but still salt of the earth," said Jeff Sheffield, a senior partner at Kirkland. "There was no subject he had not mastered, however obscure."

He was listed by Law Business Research as a leading tax practitioner in The International Who's Who of Corporate Tax Lawyers. The International Tax Review's 2002 international research survey entitled Guide to the World's Leading Tax Advisers named George as a leading adviser in his field.

George received a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in 1961, with Highest Distinction, and completed law school at the University of Chicago in 1964, graduating cum laude and Order of the Coif.

Outside of his time at Kirkland, George served as an attorney-advisor for the Office of the Tax Legislative Counsel in the U.S. Treasury Department. He was the Founding Director of Tax Analysts, a leading publisher of tax journals. He served as Chairman of the IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law Tax Institute and Graduate Tax Program Planning Committee, and taught for nine years as adjunct professor at that same institution. George regularly used his extensive contacts in the tax field to bring top speakers to the Chicago-Kent Tax Institute. He also served as Director of the Chicago Metro History Education Center.

George was the author of numerous publications, including a book entitled Start-Up Expenditures published in 1997, as well as being a respected and sought-after speaker at various seminars throughout his career.

An avid international traveler, George was fluent in French, Greek and Spanish. Colleagues who dropped by his office would often find George speaking with family and friends in an eclectic mix of each of those languages, sometimes with a little English thrown in just for fun. He knew -- and frequented -- most of the ethnic restaurants in Chicago, and was usually on a first-name basis with the owners and staff.

His presence will be greatly missed here at Kirkland and our thoughts and prayers are with the Javaras family.

George is survived by his wife, Barbara, and daughter, Kristin. Other survivors include his mother, Aphrodite, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut in Chicago on Friday, August 20, at 3 p.m. For more information on the service, please call 312-787-4570.