Kirkland & Ellis Adds Reg Brown and Accomplished Crisis and Government Response Team

Reginald (“Reg”) J. Brown joins as partner alongside three seasoned regulatory and enforcement lawyers.

Kirkland & Ellis is pleased to announce the addition of four new partners to the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office, effective Dec. 1. Led by Reginald (“Reg”) J. Brown, the team brings deep and wide-ranging regulatory and enforcement experience and skills, bolstering Kirkland’s global government investigations and crisis management capabilities. 

The team, which also includes Daniel Chaudoin, Jeremy Dresner and Daniel Kearney, strengthens the Firm’s unique experience in counseling leaders and organizations in matters that require navigating a combination of high-stakes litigation, complex regulatory environments, ongoing public policy debates, reputational concerns and media scrutiny. 

All of the attorneys, including Mr. Brown, have track records of successfully leading mission-critical global regulatory, enforcement and reputational matters. Mr. Brown has counseled many of the world’s top institutions and well-known leaders and executives, and has served at the highest levels of government, including in the White House, prior to his extensive work in private practice. Mr. Brown joins the Firm from WilmerHale, where he was a partner for 15 years and served as chair of that firm’s Financial Institutions group, and vice chair of the Crisis Management and Strategic Response group.

“Reg Brown has long been trusted by top global institutions and leaders to help them navigate challenges where the stakes couldn’t be any higher. Joining with him is a talented group with impeccable credentials. The addition of these accomplished attorneys is exciting for Kirkland and our clients,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee.

Mark Filip, a member of Kirkland’s Executive Committee who leads the Firm’s Government, Regulatory and Internal Investigations Group, added: “Reg and his team are going to be a great resource for our clients. This is a strength on strength move, and they further deepen our government-facing investigations, advisory and crisis management practices. We are pleased to welcome some of America’s leading practitioners to Kirkland.” 

Mr. Brown has earned recognition as a “Technology Law Trailblazer” by The National Law Journal in 2019, a “Nationwide Leader” in the Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Enforcement & Investigations) category by Chambers USA in 2020, and a “highly regarded lawyer in financial services regulatory” by IFLR1000: The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms. He has also been recommended by The Legal 500 U.S. for financial services regulation from 2017–2018, and recognized by the Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Brown’s congressional investigations defense practice is also widely recognized as one of Washington, D.C.’s most preeminent. In 2020, Mr. Brown was also named one of the nation’s top Lobbyists & Influencers by the nonprofit diversity focused organization Lawyers of Color.

“Kirkland & Ellis has a well-deserved reputation for excellence, and I am really looking forward to working with such distinguished colleagues – both old and new – on complex, high-profile and high-stakes matters, combining my expertise with theirs as we tackle our clients’ most pressing challenges,” Mr. Brown said.

Reginald (“Reg”) J. Brown

Reginald (“Reg”) J. Brown is widely recognized for his crisis management expertise. He provides investigations-related guidance and strategic counsel to a broad range of companies and senior executives confronting challenges and opportunities at the intersection of government, law, media and public policy. He has assisted leading institutions and high-profile individual clients – ranging from the world’s most prominent banks, hedge funds, private equity and venture firms, energy companies, government contractors, healthcare institutions and technology firms, as well as CEOs and high-ranking public officials – with more than a hundred congressional inquiries, enforcement investigations and crisis avoidance and mitigation matters.

Mr. Brown most recently served as the chairman of WilmerHale’s Financial Institutions Group and also led that firm’s congressional investigations practice as vice chair of the Crisis Management and Strategic Response Group. From 2003 to 2005, Brown served as associate White House Counsel and special assistant to the president and also previously worked as assistant to the CEO and vice president for corporate strategy at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.

Mr. Brown is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Yale University. 

Daniel Chaudoin

Daniel Chaudoin focuses on representing financial institutions in connection with investigations regarding the federal securities laws, as well as consumer protection laws and unfair and deceptive trade practices. Prior to his work in private practice, Mr. Chaudoin served on the staff of the Securities & Exchange Commission for 10 years, ultimately as Assistant Director, Director of Enforcement. Mr. Chaudoin earned his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School and his bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College.

Jeremy Dresner

Jeremy Dresner is a trusted counselor to major financial institutions, market-leading companies and senior executives facing high stakes reputational matters, frequently in connection with enforcement proceedings, congressional investigations and actions with significant collateral consequences. Recognized by Super Lawyers as a Washington D.C. “Rising Star” in government relations, his practice focuses on government and internal investigations and high-stakes crisis management assistance. Mr. Dresner served as a law clerk for Judge Susan H. Black in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He earned his law and bachelor’s degrees from Duke University.

Daniel Kearney

Daniel Kearney focuses his practice on enforcement and regulatory matters for financial institutions, as well as government regulatory litigation and policy counseling. He has navigated a range of enforcement actions and other regulatory matters before the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Justice. Mr. Kearney served as a clerk for John G. Roberts in both the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Mr. Kearney earned his law degree from Yale University, his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and his master’s degree from Boston College.