Leading Supreme Court Advocate Chris Michel Rejoins Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis announced today that Christopher G. Michel, one of the country’s most accomplished appellate and Supreme Court advocates, will rejoin the Firm as a partner. Mr. Michel will lead Kirkland’s Supreme Court and appellate practice, further strengthening the Firm’s long history of success representing clients facing complex and high-stakes appeals.

Mr. Michel brings exceptional experience to Kirkland, having argued 11 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and dozens of appeals in federal and state courts nationwide. He is widely recognized for his command of issues facing clients in complex litigation, including in the areas of securities, antitrust, technology, administrative law, healthcare and foreign affairs. He has particular experience with constitutional and other appellate issues arising from public nuisance and mass tort cases, including in multidistrict litigation. Across all fields, he has a record of consistently delivering wins for his clients. So far in 2026, The American Lawyer’s “Litigator of the Week” column has recognized Mr. Michel four times for appellate victories, including his closely watched win before the Delaware Supreme Court in the largest compensation dispute in corporate history.

“Chris is a supremely talented appellate lawyer, and we are thrilled to welcome him back to Kirkland to fill this important role,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “His addition further strengthens our market-leading litigation platform and enhances the advocacy we deliver for clients at every stage of litigation.”

Mr. Michel rejoins Kirkland from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, where he co-chaired the firm’s national appellate practice and represented clients in five Supreme Court merits cases over the past two Supreme Court terms. His insight into the Supreme Court is bolstered by his experience clerking for Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, as well as his five years of service in the Office of the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice, which represents the federal government before the Supreme Court. His government experience also includes service in the Office of the Attorney General, the White House Counsel’s Office and the White House Speechwriting Office, where he drafted more than 500 presidential speeches, including five State of the Union addresses, for President George W. Bush.

“With Chris rejoining the firm we are committed to building the nation’s foremost appellate team and scaling this practice,” said Andrew Kassof, a member of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “Whether you’re just graduating from law school, coming off a clerkship, or you’ve been arguing appeals for decades, the breadth and sophistication of our litigation group make Kirkland a uniquely attractive platform to be an appellate lawyer.”

“Kirkland has a storied history in Supreme Court and appellate litigation and sets the standard for bet-the-company litigation. I’m excited to partner with the Firm’s exceptional group of litigators to build on that strength,” said Mr. Michel. “The Firm’s talent, scale and relentless focus on results create a distinctively powerful platform. I can’t wait to get started and deliver for Kirkland’s clients.”