Overview

Katie Lencioni is a litigation partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Katie’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, along with antitrust and competition matters. She has litigated cases at both the trial and appellate stages in various state and federal courts, as well as in mediation. She served as trial counsel in a high-profile product liability case for 3M. After a two-week trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict for the defense on all claims. As a result of the win, she was named runner up for “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer. She was recently named Pro Bono Partner of the Year for her federal habeas work, overturning the wrongful conviction of a man accused of first-degree murder and sentenced to 100 years in prison.

Katie also represents and has successfully advised a number of hedge funds and private equity firms and their portfolio companies, including 3i, Citadel, GTCR, Summit Partners, TCV, Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, and Waud Capital, with respect to a wide range of issues, including M&A litigation, commercial and contract disputes, employment matters, third-party subpoenas, trade secret issues, and legal advice.

Katie is actively involved in the Firm. She participates in diversity initiatives, recruiting efforts, and the Women’s Leadership Initiative, where she formerly served as the co-chair.

More

Thought Leadership

Seminars

Facing and Managing the Client, Cartel & Antitrust Litigation Defense Conference, June 2022 

Lawyers Getting Into Hot Water: Recent Sanctions and Disciplinary Cases — Digital Discovery Violations, Federal Bar Association (Chicago Chapter), May 2016

Recognition

Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation, 2024

Recognized as “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer Litigation Daily for Abbott Representation in Baby Formula Trial, November 8, 2024

Received a “Litigator of the Week” shout out by The American Lawyer Litigation Daily for Eli Lilly Representation in Antitrust Case, February 9, 2024

Received a “Litigator of the Week” shout out by The American Lawyer Litigation Daily for Pro Bono Habeas Work, September 16, 2022

Recognized as “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer Litigation Daily for 3M Representation in Earplug Trial, April 15, 2022

PILI Fellow, The John Marshall Law School Pro Bono Clinic

Memberships & Affiliations

Big Sister, Big Brothers Big Sisters Workplace Mentoring Program

Board Member, Teach For America Chicago-Northwest Indiana Auxiliary Board

Mentor, Kirkland & Ellis Women’s Mentorship Program with Northwestern Law School

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2015Illinois

Courts

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Education

  • University of Virginia School of LawJ.D.2015

    Order of the Coif

    Virginia Bar Association Family Law Book Award

    Managing Editor, Virginia Law & Business Review

  • Johns Hopkins UniversityM.S., Education and Urban Educationsumma cum laude2012
  • University of FloridaB.S., Journalism; B.A., Political Sciencesumma cum laude2010

    Anderson Scholar of High Distinction in Political Science

    College of Journalism and Communications Excellence in Writing