Jeff Hammes joined Kirkland & Ellis in 1985 and was a partner from 1991 until his retirement at the end of 2019. He became Chairman of Kirkland's Global Management Executive Committee in 2010 and served until his retirement, at which time he became Chair Emeritus. He led Kirkland through a period of significant growth and transformation. During his tenure as Chairman, Firm revenues grew from $1.4 billion to over $4.0 billion and profits surged from $720 million to over $2.2 billion, making Kirkland the largest and most profitable law firm in the world.
Jeff was integral to the Firm’s expansion around the world. In the United States, he established Kirkland’s presence in the Bay Area as a founding partner of the San Francisco office and led the opening of the Firm’s office in Houston. He led Kirkland’s entrance into Asia with the opening of the Hong Kong office in 2007. During his tenure as Chairman, he also developed the strategy and implementation of the significant transformation and growth of the Firm’s offices in New York and London.
Prior to taking on the full-time role of Chairman, Jeff concentrated his practice representing private equity funds in connection with mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and going private transactions.
Jeff serves as a Life member on the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Advisory Board, the Board of Trustees of the Ravinia Festival Association and the Wisconsin School of Business Advisory Board.
