Ex-Justice Dept., Raytheon Lawyer Joins Kirkland & Ellis

Jay Stephens, a former U.S. associate attorney general and former general counsel at Raytheon Co., has joined Kirkland & Ellis LLP to help advise clients on corporate affairs and regulatory compliance, the firm announced Thursday.

Stephens, who retired from Raytheon in June, will serve of counsel in Kirkland's Washington, D.C., office, working with the firm's attorneys to advise boards about corporate governance, transactions and enforcements; counsel clients on internal investigations, compliance issues and regulatory enforcement strategies; and resolve regulatory and litigation disputes, Kirkland said.

"I look forward to contributing to the sound resolution of complex governance, regulatory and enforcement client issues, and to assisting the firm in delivering trusted client services and creative solutions," Stephens said in a statement.

The 1,600-attorney firm specializes in complex litigation and dispute resolution, as well as intellectual property, technology, tax and other corporate matters.

During his stint at Raytheon from 2002 to 2015, Stephens served as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Aside from his roles in management and strategic planning, Stephens led the company's ethics, compliance, and legal and regulatory affairs programs, as well as corporate governance, Kirkland said. He also oversaw corporate staff activities in risk management, safety and environmental quality, according to the firm.

Before Raytheon, Stephens worked in government. He served as U.S. associate attorney general, overseeing the U.S. Department of Justice's civil, antitrust, civil rights, tax, and environment and natural resources divisions, Kirkland said. He also served as the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., from 1988 to 1993, and as deputy counsel to President Ronald Reagan from 1986 to 1988.

Stephens attained national notoriety as Washington's federal prosecutor when he led the 1990 trial against Mayor Marion Barry on drug charges, in which Barry was convicted on one of 14 counts and sent to prison.

Stephens earlier served as corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for Honeywell International, where he led litigation and regulatory functions, chaired its integrity and compliance program, and served as general counsel of the company's business divisions. He was also a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP.

He also served in a variety of positions in the Justice Department, including principal associate deputy attorney general, assistant U.S. attorney and assistant special Watergate prosecutor.

"Jay Stephens has earned an impeccable reputation as a trusted lawyer, business adviser and leader," Jeffrey C. Hammes, chairman of Kirkland's Global Management Executive Committee, said in a statement. "His experience handling the most complex and wide-ranging litigation, regulatory and corporate governance issues will be a tremendous asset to our firm and to our clients facing complicated litigation and increasing compliance and regulatory obligations."

Kirkland has offices in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., as well as Beijing, Hong Kong, London, Munich and Shanghai.