Mark Filip, a former federal judge and high-ranking Justice Department official, helps to lead Kirkland’s government enforcement defense and internal investigations group, and serves as a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. As a partner in the Firm’s Chicago and Washington, D.C., offices, Mark has successfully guided numerous Fortune 100 companies and financial institutions through complex mission-critical moments, counseling leaders and Boards of Directors on high-stakes matters at the intersection of litigation, public policy, and reputation. He is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Mark has deep experience in both private practice and in government service, having served as a federal judge for the Northern District of Illinois and at the highest levels of government, including as Deputy Attorney General of the United States. Among various Fortune 100 companies and financial institutions, his clients span across a broad array of industries including healthcare, energy, defense contracting, manufacturing, media, professional sports, mining, agricultural production and gaming.
In his public representations, Mark has helped many of the world’s leading businesses resolve significant disputes with government authorities, including:
- BP, in relation to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill;
- Goldman Sachs, in relation to its Malaysian 1MDB bond offerings;
- Boeing, in relation to allegations concerning its 737 Max airplane;
- J.P. Morgan Chase, in relation to allegations of market manipulation and “spoofing”; and
- GM, in relation to allegations regarding ignition switches in its automobiles.
Mark has represented well-known individuals and major corporations, and has successfully resolved disputes with government authorities including: the Department of Justice; Securities and Exchange Commission; Federal Trade Commission; Department of Labor; Environmental Protection Agency; Department of Defense; Department of Homeland Security; Congress; Federal Reserve; New York Department of Financial Services; state attorneys general; and foreign regulators.
Many of Mark’s representations involve “crisis management” situations with substantial media, congressional, law enforcement, and regulatory scrutiny, as well as related civil litigation. Mark’s practice also includes a broad securities practice for clients in a variety of industries.
Mark also leads internal investigations for a wide array of boards and companies, across industries, issues ranging from financial and accounting practices to #metoo allegations, and countries around the world. He has also represented numerous special board committees convened in response to shareholder demands.
Mark has an active civil practice, including particularly in the area of class action defense. For example, he represents Allergan in expansive class action and Multi-District Litigation (MDL) litigation concerning its manufacture and sale of opioid products. Mark has substantial experience with the federal MDL process, and he has served as a judge in class action matters during his tenure on the federal bench, and as an advocate in such cases in private practice.
Prior to joining Kirkland, Mark worked at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served as Deputy Attorney General of the United States after being unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. As Deputy Attorney General, Mark was second-in-command of the Justice Department and oversaw all of its criminal and civil enforcement efforts. He also represented the Justice Department in its interactions with Congress, the White House, other cabinet-level Departments, and numerous foreign governments. Mark served as Acting Attorney General after the inauguration of President Obama, until U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was confirmed.
Prior to serving as Deputy Attorney General, Mark spent four years as a federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois after being confirmed 96–0 by the U.S. Senate. During his time as a trial judge in Chicago, Mark presided over a full docket of federal cases, including lawsuits concerning intellectual property disputes, securities law, criminal law, antitrust issues, employment and sexual harassment laws, and a wide variety of commercial and property disputes.
Early in his career, Mark served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago, where he prosecuted a variety of criminal cases, including political, judicial, and police corruption, and financial and tax fraud.
