This sky-high profitability coupled with the firms merit-based compensation system, which allows them to pay certain rainmakers more than those at a lockstep firm, has proven potent. From 2009 to 2019, the firms revenue increased 11.5% per year on average while its profits per equity partner rose 7.6%, the American Lawyer reported. Soon after he became Kirklands chairman in 2020, Ballis remembers, he tried to woo a partner from a rival firm in London. Work. . From 2009 to 2019, the firms revenue increased 11.5% per year on average while its profits per equity partner rose 7.6%, the American Lawyer reported. Ballis was selected the firms chairman in 2018 by a group of senior partners. Jon Ballis is chairman-elect of Kirkland & Ellis' global management executive committee and will become chairman in 2020. The Super Lawyers selection process takes into account peer . 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Like many large firms, though, it declined to provide diversity statistics of its recent partnership classes. But theres good reason to believe the firm did even better in 2021, considering that it set a record for activity levels in its M&A practice, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. ), Pandemic Generation of Junior Lawyers Win Power Amid Talent War, Kirkland Passes Wachtell as Big Laws Top Global Dealmaker (1). Fellows ProgramFellows nominated:2022: Eric White; 2021: Shaun Mathew; 2020:Paul Tanaka; 2019: Luke Guerra; 2018: Erin Johnston; 2017: Joseph A. Loy; 2016: William Joseph Benitez; 2015: Atif Khawaja; 2014: Jeanne M. Heffernan; 2013:Barack S. Echols; 2012: Diana M. Torres;2011:Elizabeth L. Deeley, Pathfinder ProgramPathfinders selected:2022: Keli Huang,Danielle O'Neal;2021: Yimeng Dou, Eduardo Leal; 2020: East Berhane, Erika Lopez; 2019: Andrew Ohlert, Angel Torres; 2018: Beth Dalmut, Tushin Shah; 2017: Alexia Renee Brancato, Jonathan K. Tshiamala;2016: Tracie L. Bryant, Aparna Yenamandra; 2015: Vikas Didwania, Maggie Flores, 1L LCLD Scholars ProgramScholars hosted:2022:Victoria Rackley,Jasmeene Burton-Martin,Daniel Walker,Anthony Aguirre,Christopher Washington,Yasmeen Shrestha,Andrew Lin,Sonya Mattis,Hafzat Akanni,Kenneth Coleman,Cristian Pleters-Escobar;2021: Khash Goshtasbi, Jeffrey Cole, Lydia Seifeselassie, Jack Tubio, Jennifer Liu, Luv Karia, Nia Vogel, Daisy Almonte; 2020: Danielle Solaru, Eduardo Morera, Isabella Bergonzoli Jaramillo, Ashton Dubey, Naomi Duru, Matthew Guiang; 2019: Kiana Outen, Tamara Chin Loy, BreYanna Prince, Austin Fregene, Courtney Bibbs; 2018: Katelynn Adams, Princess Daisy Akita; 2017: Tina Chao, Eric Hwang,Malika Moore,Sahel Sra;2016: Claudia Diaz-Alemany, Suiwen Liang, Heather Lui, Yvette Sokei; 2014: Sarahi Constantine Padilla; 2013: Esther Lukman, Chautney McMillian, Success in Law School Mentoring ProgramMentors provided: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, AttendanceAnnual Meeting (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015), Communications: Ashley Post, Kate Slaasted. Jon A Ballis Kirkland & Ellis19 Years Ranked. Jon Ballis is Chairman of Kirkland's Executive Committee. He wants people like him who relish the hard work. Jon Ballis is one of the young stars of the Kirkland & Ellis buyouts practice, and a standout player for private equity firms doing deals in America's third largest city of Chicago, centre of the . If youre a private equity guy with a couple of big clients, Im sure everyone is very collegial at that level.. Listen to Roy Strom read his story. It says attrition grew 50% from a more normal 2019 to 2021, and that the poaching by other law firms is indicative of the value that Kirkland experience adds to a lawyers resume. Contact Us| on Facebook, Share profile for Jon A. Ballis P.C. Whatever her actual reasons, Ballis took it as confirmation that Kirkland has a branding problem. If youre a private equity guy with a couple of big clients, Im sure everyone is very collegial at that level.. But Ballis is making a statement in going after Kirklands first prominent hire from Wachtell, a New York firm known for its M&A prowess that rarely, if ever, loses its partners to rivals. They took home more than $5m on average last year $2tn Private. Kirkland, along with some other out-of-town firms like Sidley Austin and Latham & Watkins, has used aggressive lateral recruiting to draw from New Yorks dealmaking talent pool. Over his 30-year career, he has been recognized as one of the leading private equity M&A attorneys in the United States and has represented many of the worlds leading private equity firms. 1-877-812-1590, The Most Powerful Women In Chicago Business. Jon Ballis is Chairman of the Executive Committee of Kirkland & Ellis, one of the worlds leading law firms with 6,500 professionals (including more than 3,000 attorneys) around the world committed to the highest quality legal advice and unparalleled client service. He has advised leading private-equity firms throughout his career, including Bain Capital, Madison Dearborn and Pritzker Private Capital. Jon A. Ballis took charge at Kirkland & Ellis 68 days before the pandemic was declared. analyse how our Sites are used. He took advantage of what he saw as a hole in his competitors armor: They paid their lawyers based on how long theyd worked for the firm, not in proportion to their individual contributions. Were Goldman Sachs or McKinsey of the law firm world. I will tell you with full candor, I see tremendous opportunity and upside.. 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Get the best business coverage in Chicago, from breaking news to razor-sharp analysis, in print and online. The potential hire wouldve filled a hole in the firms antitrust practice, convincing regulators that transformational corporate deals wont harm consumers. Jon Ballis is Chairman of Kirkland's Executive Committee. P.C. As a high school senior on Chicagos north side, Ballis captained the Highland Park High School basketball team to a 1-23 record. Collegiality and everything, talk is cheap, the former partner said. Women, Influence & Power in Law UK Awards honors women lawyers who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession. Bloomberg Markets live from New York, focused on bringing you the most important global business and breaking markets news and information as it happens. Its not a good culture, said one former share partner who left the firm recently. He now faces the challenge of driving success while competition for top legal talent is fierce. Jon has long been recognized as one of the leading private equity attorneys in the United States by major legal publications. Try for free at rocketreach.co . New private equity funds formed to take advantage of distressed opportunities. In his role, Jon is responsible for establishing and executing upon Kirklands strategic priorities, including advancing business initiatives and promoting a culture of performance, collaboration and collegiality. Now thats such a part of who we are that it happens naturally.. Ballis graduated with a Soviet studies major from Lehigh University in 1991, took out loans to go to Harvard Law School, and returned to Chicago to work at Sidley Austin. Kirkland opened offices in Austin, Texas, and Salt Lake City, Utah, just to access people in places where they were already living. Still, many in the legal industry laugh at the idea that Kirkland has quietly changed its style. Like many large firms, though, it declined to provide diversity statistics of its recent partnership classes. Jon Ballis became Chairman of Kirkland & Ellis in 2020.He led the opening of the firm's Boston office in 2017 and is recognized as a leading private equity attorney in the U.S. Jon is also the Co-Founder of the Vision for Tomorrow Foundation, an organization that supports children with visual impairments, and serves on the board of the Anti-Defamation League . We can destroy everybody else, and lets actually go destroy other people.. Jon A. Ballis P.C. Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1994; Lehigh University, B.A., with High Honors, 1991. To Hammes, it meant young, talented partners could feel stymied. One former share partner said it didnt ring true that Kirkland had quietly transformed into a collaborators dream. Suite 3200 You see what type of lawyer he is and you want to be that.. I hate the term book of business.. Before Hammes, Kirklands compensation system was dubbed eat-what-you-kill. Lawyers took home shares of the hours they were responsible for generating. Copyright 2023 ALM Global, LLC. If Ballis can replicate those growth rates over another 10-year period, hed be leading a law firm thats bringing in more than $14 billion a year and paying its average shareholding partner more than $10 million a year. - Chicago, IL - Lawyer | Best Lawyers Recognized since 2006 Chicago, Illinois Practice Areas Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law Mergers and Acquisitions Law Biography Overview Firm Details Awards & Practice News & Media Publications Illinois 2023 Home Log In Begin Nomination Lawyers Methodology Insights Publications About Anti-Defamation League, Civic Committee, Commercial Club of Chicago, Economic Club, Illinois Holocaust Museum, Legal Aid Chicago Justice Circle, Vision for Tomorrow Foundation. He has long been recognized as one of the leading private equity attorneys in the United States, with Chambers USA recognizing him in every edition since 2004 and The Best Lawyers in America listing him in every edition since 2006. Visit the website for Jon A. Ballis P.C. Name a rivalWachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; Cravath, Swaine & Moore; Simpson Thacher & Bartlettand Kirkland has poached from them. Part of the culture change has been required by the scale of Kirklands business. Jon A. Ballis took charge at Kirkland & Ellis 68 days before the pandemic was declared. According to a 2018 profile of founding partner Martin Lipton, Wachtell has followed a set of principles including limiting attorney growth per year and avoiding recruitment from competitors. Use my voice at the Firm to address DEI issues and expand opportunities for those attorneys who have been historically underrepresented in the legal industry, including people of color, women and members of the LGBTQ+ community . 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