Linda K. Myers, P.C.

Retired Partner Debt Finance

Overview

Linda Myers 'does an incredible job and is an incredible attorney' with 'the relevant experience and a great demeanor in negotiations. Clients appreciate that she 'makes herself available, no matter what,' while always 'picking up on points that may not necessarily be on the page.' - Chambers USA

Until February of 2022 when she retired from law practice, Linda Myers was a corporate partner at international law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP where she had three decades of experience advising clients. Nationally recognized by top attorney ranking agencies, Linda Myers also received praise from numerous clients. They called Linda “exceptional, the real deal. She's very knowledgeable, professional and extremely bright,” and “a wonderful lawyer and a pleasant individual – we need more people like her in the market.” Linda was a member of Kirkland’s Global Management Committee from 2010 to 2020. As one of the original members of the Firm’s Debt Finance Practice Group, she focused her work on transactions for private equity groups, commercial lending institutions and major private and public companies. Linda was ranked by Chambers Global and Chambers USA as one of a very exclusive group of “Eminent Practitioners” nationwide.

Linda’s practice served private equity sponsors and companies in connection with leveraged buyout financings for acquisitions, as well as working capital facilities, CP backup facilities, refinancings and other commercial banking matters. She also represented lenders in distressed transactions and in acquisition financing and refinancing opportunities. In the restructuring arena, Linda predominantly counseled debtors looking for financing to navigate through and exit bankruptcy. Her work encompassed a full spectrum of industries, including healthcare, technology, retail, professional services, manufacturing and consumer brands.

In 2020, The Legal 500 inducted Linda into its Hall of Fame in Finance and Commercial Lending. This honor highlights law firm partners “at the pinnacle of the profession” who “have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence.” In 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2018, the IFLR1000 Women Leaders guide named Linda as one of the 1,000 female lawyers ranked as the best transactional practitioners in their markets and practice areas. In 2020, Linda was named to Lawdragon’s list of the “500 Leading Lawyers in America” and was inducted into their “Hall of Fame” in 2023. Also in 2020, Linda received the St. Ignatius College Prep 39th Annual Law Society Award for Excellence in the Field of Law. Recently, Linda was recognized by Who’s Who Legal in the practice area of Banking for 2023.

Excelling at both law and deal management, Linda assembled and managed top-notch legal teams, gathered resources, supervised work streams, and fostered relationships for the Firm. With a style that’s communicative, inclusive, flexible, direct and extremely efficient, Linda relates to people from all backgrounds and believes that building bridges – including with those on the opposing side – tends to lead to more satisfactory outcomes for her clients.

Included by Crain’s Chicago Business in the “Who’s Who in Chicago Business” in 2016 and 2017, selected as a “Notable Gen X Leader in Law” in 2019, named one of “The Most Powerful Women in Business” in 2018 and “The Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago” in 2017, Linda enthusiastically supports marquee cultural and educational organizations. For example, she serves on the boards of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and The Chicago Shakespeare Theater and has done pro bono work for both organizations. Linda sat on the board of St. Ignatius College Prep, a Jesuit Chicago high school, from 2016 to 2022 and is a member of the Parents Council to the Chancellor at Washington University in St. Louis. In addition, Linda serves on the board of the Advisory Board of Kinzie Capital Partners, a women-founded private equity fund based in Chicago.

More

Recognition

Linda has been recognized or quoted in numerous articles in various publications. Select highlights include:

  • “Women in Law Honoree,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin & Chicago Lawyer, May 2020

  • Received the St. Ignatius College Prep 39th Annual Law Society Award for Excellence in the Field of Law in February 2020 

  • “2019 Notable Gen X Leaders in Law,” Crain’s Chicago Business, May 30, 2019

  • “More law firms join ‘best for women’ lists, but statistics are stalled,” ABA Journal, October 2018

  • “The Most Powerful Women in Chicago Business,” Crain’s Chicago Business, August 30, 2018 

  • “Who's Who in Chicago Business,” Crain's Chicago Business, August 2016 and September 2017

  • “National Law Journal's Outstanding Women Lawyers,” The National Law Journal, April 15, 2015

  • “Dealmakers and Their Deals: A Texas Company’s Twofer,” The American Lawyer, April 2015

  • “Firm Life: News and notes from the legal community,” Chicago Lawyer, April 1, 2015

  • “The Most Powerful Women in Chicago Business: Linda Myers,” Crain's Chicago Business, September 1, 2014

  • “Big Deals (Madison Dearborn Partners),” The American Lawyer, May 29, 2014

  • “Am Law Trio on Motorola Unit Sale,” The Am Law Daily, April 15, 2014

  • “Motorola Inks $3.5B Sale of Enterprise Business,” Law360, April 15, 2014

  • “Big Deals: BMC Software Buyout,” The American Lawyer, July 2013

  • “Women Worth Watching,” Profiles in Diversity Journal, September/October 2012

Memberships & Affiliations

Member of Marex Board of Directors (also sits on the Audit & Compliance Committee and Remuneration Committee)

Member of Arcs Healthcare Board of Directors (also sits on Human Resource Committee)

Member of Gibraltar Industries (NASDAQ: ROCK) Board of Directors
(also serves as chair of Nominating, Governance & Corporate Social Responsibility Committee and sits on Audit & Risk Committee, Capital Structure & Asset Management Committee and Compensation & Human Capital Committee)

Member of LCI Industries (NYSE: LCII) Board of Directors (also serves as Chair of Corporate Governance, Nominating & Sustainability Committee and sits on Risk Committee and Strategy, Acquisition, and Capital Deployment Committee)

Member of Kinzie Capital Partners Advisory Board

Vice Chair of National Philanthropic Trust Board of Trustees
(also serves as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee, sits on Nominating & Governance Committee and is co-chair of the Search & Transition Committee)

Member of the American Bar Association Section of Business Law

Fellow of The American Bar Foundation

Member of the Catherine Cook School Board of Trustees, 2005 – 2019
(also served as Chair of the Board, 2014 – 2019; Chair of the Executive Committee, 2014 – 2019; and Chair of the Trustee & Nominating Committee, 2012 – 2014)

Member of the Center for WorkLife Law Board, 2012 – 2020

Member of the Chicago Finance Exchange

Member of The Chicago Network Board of Directors, 2014 – 2020
(also served as Governance Committee Chair, 2018 – 2020)

Member of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater Board of Directors
(also sits on the Executive Committee and Nominating Committee and is Chair of the Membership Committee)

Member of The Economic Club of Chicago

Member of the Illinois and New York State Bar Associations

Member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Board of Directors

Member of the St. Ignatius College Prep Board of Trustees, 2016–2022
(also sat on the Development Committee, 2016–2022)

Member of the St. Clement Finance Council

Kirkland Committees

  • Member of the Firm Committee, 2010 – 2020
  • Chair of the Administrative Committee, 2009 -2021
  • Member of the Firmwide Associate Review Committee, 2001 - 2021
  • Member of the Associate & Non-Share Partner Compensation Committee 2010- 2021
  • Member of the Audit Committee, 2014 – 2022
  • Member of the Diversity Integration Task Force and the Diversity Committee
  • Member of the Finance Committee, 2007 – 2018
  • Member of the 2017 Proposing Partners Committee
  • Member of the 2014 Admissions Committee of Non-Share Partner Review

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 1990New York
  • 1993Illinois

Courts

  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Education

  • Georgetown University Law CenterJ.D.1989

    Dean's List

    American Criminal Law Review

  • University of Wisconsin-MadisonB.A.1986
    Dean's List

Press Coverage

  • “Kirkland Guides Dex One in All-Stock SuperMedia Deal,” Law360, August 21, 2012
  • “Office Space: Linda Myers,” Chicago Tribune, May 7, 2012
  • “Hiring new lawyers in the Chicago legal landscape,” Chicago Lawyer, August 2011
  • “Maybe not the Center of the Universe, but Close; Chicago is Becoming a Hub of Activity as Recovery Spurs Dealmaking and Firm Growth,” The National Law Journal, August 9, 2010
  • “In-House Counsel Name Favorite Corporate, M&A Attys,” Law360, January 26, 2010
  • “Bemis, Food Americas Wrap $1.2 Billion Deal,” The AmLaw Daily, July 6, 2009

Linda actively promotes Kirkland’s recruiting and diversity initiatives and has been quoted in various publications. Select highlights include:

  • “The Rule Breakers,” Working Mother, August 6, 2014
  • “Lean In Sparks Success Connections at Kirkland & Ellis,” Profiles in Diversity Journal, November/December 2013
  • “Women Worth Watching,” Profiles in Diversity Journal, September/October 2012
  • “State of Diversity: ‘I Think We’re Ready to Leap to Another Level,’” Chicago Lawyer, July 2011
  • “Groups release ‘Call to Action’ report this week,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, June 10, 2010
  • “Four Local Firms Recognized for Family Policies,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, May 7, 2010