Kirkland, Illinois — Kirkland & Ellis has significantly expanded its litigation team by recruiting more than 20 attorneys from rival firm King & Spalding, enhancing its capabilities in mass tort and product liability defense.
Leading the new group are partners Kristen Fournier, Kim Bueno, Morty Dubin, and John Ewald, who transitioned to Kirkland over the past week. Sources indicate that a total of 23 lawyers have committed to the move, and discussions are underway to increase this number to nearly 30, which would include partners, associates, and counsel.
As part of this transition, one of the newly recruited lawyers has been elevated to partner, bringing the total of new partners at Kirkland to 13. A representative from King & Spalding expressed support for the departing team, wishing them well in their new endeavor.
Andrew Kassof, a litigation partner and member of Kirkland’s executive committee, commented on the recent hires, noting the firm’s ongoing growth and the exceptional talent being brought into its litigation practice. This growth aligns with Kirkland’s goals for success in 2025.
The newly appointed lawyers will join a product liability and mass tort trial team led by partner Allison Brown, who herself joined Kirkland in January from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. In a LinkedIn post, Fournier highlighted that collaborating with Brown had been a personal aspiration for eight years.
Members of the group possess extensive experience in representing significant pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson. They will be based in various locations, including Houston, Austin, Los Angeles, and New York.
Fournier previously co-chaired King & Spalding’s toxic and environmental tort litigation team, where she played a crucial role in defending Johnson & Johnson against allegations that its talcum powder products caused serious health issues like mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Additionally, she led the defense for a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary tied to concerns about vision problems related to a prescription drug named Elmiron.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our team to join Kirkland, especially during a time of remarkable growth and success for the firm’s litigation division,” Fournier remarked, highlighting her enthusiasm for the new chapter.
The addition of this robust group is expected to further bolster Kirkland’s reputation in litigation, positioning the firm to take on even more complex and high-stakes legal challenges.
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