Ellisen Turner Joins Kirkland & Ellis as Intellectual Property Litigation Partner in Los Angeles
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that prominent intellectual property strategist and litigator Ellisen Turner has joined the Firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner.
“Ellisen is known for his strong IP litigation experience, as well as his leadership within the legal community,” said Jeffrey C. Hammes, Chairman of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee. “His talents and business acumen will be a positive addition to our active IP practice.”
Ellisen’s practice focuses on complex patent and trade secret litigation and IP strategy and transactions. He represents clients on high-profile matters in numerous federal courts, as well as at the U.S. International Trade Commission, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and in domestic and international arbitrations.
With a background in computer engineering, computer science and biomedical engineering, Ellisen has represented and advised clients across multiple technology sectors including media and entertainment technology, semiconductor design and fabrication, biotechnology and life sciences.
“Ellisen’s great litigation, business and technical experience make him a valuable addition to our IP practice,” said Gregg LoCascio, an IP partner and member of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee. “His track record is impressive and his ability to creatively achieve solutions that meet clients’ needs impressed us. We knew he would be a natural fit at Kirkland.”
In addition to IP litigation, Ellisen has developed a successful IP strategy practice where he helps clients maximize the value of their technology investments during corporate transactions, when developing licensing programs, and in pre-litigation planning. He counsels businesses on IP portfolio analyses, technology development and commercialization, IP issues arising in bankruptcy matters, and IP due diligence in connection with mergers, acquisitions and asset purchases.
Deeply involved in the Los Angeles community and in national legal organizations, Ellisen has been appointed numerous times to the Judicial Elections Evaluations Committee for the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has served as the chairman and a board member of the Intellectual Property Section of the National Bar Association. He also serves on the Intellectual Property Owners Association Litigation Committee and its Education Subcommittee.
A 2019 recipient of the Deborah Broyles Law Firm Diversity Leader Award from the California Minority Counsel Program, Ellisen has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improving diversity and inclusion within the legal community. He founded the National Bar Association's Diversity in Tech Awards, which annually recognize leaders for fostering diversity and inclusion in the STEM and IP fields. He was instrumental in crafting his former law firm’s diversity scholarship program to promote diversity in the legal profession and attract future leaders dedicated to inclusion. He also speaks regularly on diversity topics and mentors attorneys and students from underrepresented groups.
Ellisen has earned recognition from The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA. The Los Angeles Business Journal named him one of the 40 “Most Influential Minority Attorneys” and the Daily Journal and Law360 each recognized him as a top lawyer under 40. The National Bar Association also recognized Ellisen as a “Trailblazer Under 40” and the Century City Bar Association named him a “Patent Litigation Lawyer of the Year.”
Ellisen joins Kirkland from Irell & Manella, where he was a partner and previously served as firmwide managing partner.
“I am looking forward to joining Kirkland and its IP team, which is known for not only its high-profile work but also its creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence,” Ellisen said. “I enjoy using my legal and business skills to creatively help clients solve any problem they face at the intersection of law and technology. With Kirkland, I will be able to draw on perhaps the largest and deepest group of lawyers with IP and business expertise of any firm in the world. Beyond enhancing my litigation practice, Kirkland’s preeminent private equity group provides countless opportunities to advise portfolio companies on IP strategy.”
He continued: “On a personal level, I have always been committed to developing young lawyers and giving back to the profession that has given so much to me. Kirkland’s multiple offices and cross-practice strength provide a terrific platform to recruit, mentor and retain the highest quality talent. I look forward to continuing my efforts to improve diversity in the legal community and this goal aligns well with Kirkland’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.”
About Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland & Ellis is an international law firm with 2,700 attorneys representing clients in intellectual property, litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions, and restructuring matters. The Firm has no headquarters location, and operates from 15 offices around the world: Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.
“Ellisen is known for his strong IP litigation experience, as well as his leadership within the legal community,” said Jeffrey C. Hammes, Chairman of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee. “His talents and business acumen will be a positive addition to our active IP practice.”
Ellisen’s practice focuses on complex patent and trade secret litigation and IP strategy and transactions. He represents clients on high-profile matters in numerous federal courts, as well as at the U.S. International Trade Commission, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and in domestic and international arbitrations.
With a background in computer engineering, computer science and biomedical engineering, Ellisen has represented and advised clients across multiple technology sectors including media and entertainment technology, semiconductor design and fabrication, biotechnology and life sciences.
“Ellisen’s great litigation, business and technical experience make him a valuable addition to our IP practice,” said Gregg LoCascio, an IP partner and member of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee. “His track record is impressive and his ability to creatively achieve solutions that meet clients’ needs impressed us. We knew he would be a natural fit at Kirkland.”
In addition to IP litigation, Ellisen has developed a successful IP strategy practice where he helps clients maximize the value of their technology investments during corporate transactions, when developing licensing programs, and in pre-litigation planning. He counsels businesses on IP portfolio analyses, technology development and commercialization, IP issues arising in bankruptcy matters, and IP due diligence in connection with mergers, acquisitions and asset purchases.
Deeply involved in the Los Angeles community and in national legal organizations, Ellisen has been appointed numerous times to the Judicial Elections Evaluations Committee for the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has served as the chairman and a board member of the Intellectual Property Section of the National Bar Association. He also serves on the Intellectual Property Owners Association Litigation Committee and its Education Subcommittee.
A 2019 recipient of the Deborah Broyles Law Firm Diversity Leader Award from the California Minority Counsel Program, Ellisen has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improving diversity and inclusion within the legal community. He founded the National Bar Association's Diversity in Tech Awards, which annually recognize leaders for fostering diversity and inclusion in the STEM and IP fields. He was instrumental in crafting his former law firm’s diversity scholarship program to promote diversity in the legal profession and attract future leaders dedicated to inclusion. He also speaks regularly on diversity topics and mentors attorneys and students from underrepresented groups.
Ellisen has earned recognition from The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA. The Los Angeles Business Journal named him one of the 40 “Most Influential Minority Attorneys” and the Daily Journal and Law360 each recognized him as a top lawyer under 40. The National Bar Association also recognized Ellisen as a “Trailblazer Under 40” and the Century City Bar Association named him a “Patent Litigation Lawyer of the Year.”
Ellisen joins Kirkland from Irell & Manella, where he was a partner and previously served as firmwide managing partner.
“I am looking forward to joining Kirkland and its IP team, which is known for not only its high-profile work but also its creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence,” Ellisen said. “I enjoy using my legal and business skills to creatively help clients solve any problem they face at the intersection of law and technology. With Kirkland, I will be able to draw on perhaps the largest and deepest group of lawyers with IP and business expertise of any firm in the world. Beyond enhancing my litigation practice, Kirkland’s preeminent private equity group provides countless opportunities to advise portfolio companies on IP strategy.”
He continued: “On a personal level, I have always been committed to developing young lawyers and giving back to the profession that has given so much to me. Kirkland’s multiple offices and cross-practice strength provide a terrific platform to recruit, mentor and retain the highest quality talent. I look forward to continuing my efforts to improve diversity in the legal community and this goal aligns well with Kirkland’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.”
About Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland & Ellis is an international law firm with 2,700 attorneys representing clients in intellectual property, litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions, and restructuring matters. The Firm has no headquarters location, and operates from 15 offices around the world: Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.
