Press Release

Kirkland Washington Partner Michael D. Jones Inducted Into The American College of Trial Lawyers

Michael D. Jones, partner in the Litigation Practice at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America.

The induction ceremony at which Mr. Jones became a Fellow took place on Oct. 22, 2005, before an audience of 950 persons during the 55th Annual Meeting of the College in Chicago.

Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada.  Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.  Lawyers must have a minimum of 15 years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship.

Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province.  There are currently approximately 5,500 members in the United States and Canada, including active Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, Judicial Fellows (those who ascended to the bench after their induction) and Honorary Fellows.

The College strives to improve and elevate the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the trial profession.  Qualified lawyers are called to Fellowship in the College from all branches of trial practice.  They are carefully selected from among those who customarily represent plaintiffs in civil cases and those who customarily represent defendants, those who prosecute accused of crime and those who defend them.  The College is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and administration of justice.

Having practiced at Kirkland’s Washington, D.C. office since 1986, Mr. Jones has served as trial and appellate counsel in commercial, product liability, and toxic torts cases across the United States.

Mr. Jones was selected by The National Law Journal for its feature, “Winning: Successful Strategies From 10 of the Nation's Leading Litigators.”  He was also chosen as one of the 75 Best Lawyers in Washington by Washingtonian magazine.  Additionally, Mr. Jones  was named by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of America’s Top Black Lawyers.  He is listed in Who’s Who In America, and in Global Counsel, The Law and Leading Lawyers Worldwide.

The 45-year-old Mr. Jones graduated cum laude from Georgetown Law School in 1985 and received his bachelor's degree from Dillard University in 1982 where he finished first in his class.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a 1,100-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex litigation, dispute resolution and arbitration; corporate and tax; restructuring; and intellectual property and technology matters.  The Firm has offices in Washington, D.C, Chicago, London, Munich, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.