Kirkland, Washington — Kirkland & Ellis has significantly expanded its litigation capabilities by recruiting over 20 attorneys, including 12 partners, from rival firm King & Spalding. This strategic move aims to enhance the firm’s expertise in mass tort and product liability defense.
The new arrivals, which include prominent attorneys like Kristen Fournier, Kim Bueno, Morty Dubin, and John Ewald, began their tenure last week, according to sources familiar with the situation. In total, 23 litigators from King & Spalding are set to join Kirkland, with plans to further increase the group to nearly 30 professionals in the near future. This expansion reinforces Kirkland’s commitment to strengthening its litigation practice.
One of the incoming lawyers has already been elevated to the rank of partner at Kirkland, bringing the total number of new partners to 13. A spokesperson for King & Spalding expressed support for the departing attorneys, wishing them well in their new endeavors.
Kirkland’s litigation partner Andrew Kassof, who serves on the executive committee, touted the firm’s continued growth during a statement announcing the new hires. He emphasized both the favorable outcomes achieved by the litigation team and the high-caliber talent being onboarded.
The new litigators will integrate into a product liability and mass tort trial team led by partner Allison Brown, who joined Kirkland earlier this year from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Philadelphia. In a LinkedIn announcement, Fournier highlighted her anticipation of collaborating with Brown, describing it as a long-term professional aspiration.
Many of the hired litigators have backgrounds representing major pharmaceutical firms, such as Johnson & Johnson. The group’s members will be based across 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 key role in defending Johnson & Johnson against accusations related to its talcum powder products and a prescription drug, Elmiron, which has been linked to vision-related issues.
“It is an honor for our team to join Kirkland during such an impressive expansion for the firm’s litigation department,” said Fournier, underscoring the group’s enthusiasm for their new roles.
This recruitment is part of a broader trend at Kirkland, which has consistently sought to enhance its litigation practice amidst a competitive legal landscape. The move is reflective of the firm’s strategy to position itself as a leading entity in complex litigation.
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