Kirkland Expands New York M&A Practice with Hire of Leading Corporate Attorney Ed Lee

Kirkland & Ellis LLP announced today that Edward Lee, one of the country’s leading young mergers and acquisitions attorneys, has joined the Firm as a partner.

“Ed is among the top young M&A lawyers in the country, with significant experience guiding clients through high-profile M&A transactions, as well as governance and activism defense matters,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee. “Ed’s addition continues our long-term investment in the Firm’s leading strategic M&A business. He will be a great addition to the top-tier platform we have in New York and across the Firm, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the team.” 

In addition to mergers and acquisitions, Mr. Lee also advises companies and their boards of directors on corporate governance and shareholder activism defense. He has experience across numerous industry sectors including, among others, TMT, healthcare, industrial, energy and financial institutions. 

Mr. Lee was previously a partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in New York. Lawdragon named him as one of the 500 leading lawyers in America, and IFLR1000 and Expert Guides have recognized him as a leading lawyer for M&A. Law360 featured Mr. Lee as a “Rising Star” for M&A in 2018.  

Mr. Lee is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and is actively involved in civic and professional organizations. He is a David Rockefeller Fellow, Class of 2017-2018. Mr. Lee is also a member of the Council of Korean Americans, and serves as a board member and co-chair of the Corporate Law Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York, and as a member of the Leadership Advisory Group for the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York. Mr. Lee holds degrees from Cornell University and Harvard Law School.