Prominent White Collar and Securities Enforcement Lawyer Joins Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, D.C.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that W. Neil Eggleston, a nationally recognized white collar and securities enforcement attorney with substantial government experience, has joined the Firm as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office. Mr. Eggleston joins Kirkland from the Washington, D.C., office of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, where he was a partner.

"Neil Eggleston has an impeccable reputation in the white collar bar as an exceptionally talented lawyer, with a depth of experience that is difficult to match. He joins us at a time when increased government scrutiny and regulation, and the successes of our white collar practice, continue to increase demand for our experienced white collar and securities enforcement attorneys. We believe Neil's practice is a perfect match for our strong existing group, and we enthusiastically welcome him to the Firm," said Jeffrey C. Hammes, Chairman of Kirkland's Global Management Executive Committee.

For more than 20 years, Mr. Eggleston, 58, has represented corporations and high-profile public figures against allegations of a variety of civil and criminal fraud-related offenses in the areas of securities, health care and government procurement, as well as violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and antitrust laws, among other matters. He also has substantial experience representing companies and individuals in internal investigations and congressional investigations.

Among his recent high-profile representations, Mr. Eggleston served as defense counsel for former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in the prosecution of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He also previously represented the Office of the President of the United States in the Whitewater/Lewinsky investigation, a secretary of labor, a secretary of transportation and U.S. senators, among other prominent agencies and individuals.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Eggleston served in several government positions. From 1993 to 1994, he was a White House lawyer under President Clinton. In that role, he worked with Kirkland's Susan Davies, who joined the Firm last year after serving as Deputy White House Counsel under President Obama. Mr. Eggleston also served as Deputy Chief Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with Iran (1987-1988), Assistant U.S. Attorney (1981-1987) and Chief Appellate Attorney (1986-1987) for the Southern District of New York.

"Neil's substantial government experience will be immediately beneficial to our clients, as well as our attorneys in our national Government, Regulatory and Internal Investigations Practice Group and the Washington office. We have admired Neil's work for years, and we look forward to adding his intellectual drive and energy to our office," said Eugene Assaf, a partner in the Washington, D.C., office, and member of Kirkland's Global Management Executive Committee.

Mr. Eggleston will also be united with Mark Filip, a Kirkland partner who focuses on white collar matters and who also serves on Kirkland's Global Management Executive Committee. Mr. Filip served as Deputy Attorney General under President George W. Bush and is a former U.S. District Court Judge.

"We are thrilled that Neil is joining us. We are doing exciting and challenging matters for clients and adding Neil's unique experience, judgment and talent will enhance our efforts," said Mr. Filip.

Mr. Eggleston has been recognized as a leading lawyer for directors' duties and liabilities, dispute resolution, financial services regulation, securities regulation and enforcement, and white collar crime and government investigations, by Chambers & Partners, the Legal 500, PLC Which Lawyer? and Washingtonian magazine.

In its 2010 edition, Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business, noted, "his prominence in the field gives him unique insight into the current risk areas in global business," and called him a lawyer "at the top of his game" for his "absolutely outstanding judgment."

"I am pleased to join the talented lawyers of Kirkland & Ellis, many of whom I have known for a very long time. The Firm has one of the premier litigation practices in the country and has recruited some of the top talent in the area of white collar defense, government investigations and securities enforcement over the last several years. I am looking forward to working alongside my new partners to contribute to Kirkland's continued success," said Mr. Eggleston.

Mr. Eggleston earned a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law and a B.A. from Duke University. He clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers. 

Kirkland's Government, Regulatory and Internal Investigations Practice Group consists of nationally recognized attorneys in all six U.S. offices and London. Kirkland's lawyers have tried several dozen federal criminal cases and Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement actions, and have been involved in a number of the most significant white collar criminal defense matters in the United States. The Firm regularly represents corporations and their executives in matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, securities, health care, environmental, tax, public corruption, antitrust and related areas, in addition to having conducted hundreds of comprehensive internal investigations.

Kirkland attorneys have represented clients before nearly every federal and state agency, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Association of Securities Dealers, and before numerous administrative agencies, including judicial and congressional review committees, and international governing agencies, including the European Union.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP (www.kirkland.com) is a 1,500-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, corporate, tax, restructuring and intellectual property and technology matters. The Firm has offices in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Shanghai.