Gregg Kirchhoefer

Gregg Kirchhoefer

Chicago, IL recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2006
Kirkland & Ellis LLP

216 Best Lawyers awards

Kirkland & Ellis LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Information Technology Law Technology Law

Biography

Building on work experience in the computer industry, Gregg Kirchhoefer's practice is focused on transactional and counseling matters primarily involving information technology, telecommunications, eCommerce, artificial intelligence, robotics, life sciences, pharma, biotechnology, other technologies, and intellectual property, corporate and commercial issues. Gregg founded the Firm’s intellectual property/technology transactions and outsourcing practice groups.

In addition, Gregg works closely with the Firm's corporate, private equity, tax, and restructuring attorneys on mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, venture capital/private equity transactions, securities offerings, financing transactions, and restructuring counseling and related transactions, and with the Firm's litigation attorneys on contentious matters requiring consulting on matters within Gregg's knowledge domain.

Gregg's outsourcing experience spans more than 35 years and in that time he has handled some of the largest, most comprehensive outsourcings in history. One transaction that exemplifies the breadth and historical strength of such experience is the original services agreement between General Motors Corporation and EDS in 1985 (as well as many subsequent agreements) that included all of General Motors' IT functions, assets and personnel.

He also was responsible for the seminal BPO transactions in the late 1980s and first handled an offshore IT outsourcing transaction with an Indian service provider in 1988.Gregg has represented both service providers and customers in manufacturing, financial services, utilities, consumer products and other industries in these types of transactions.

Gregg's IT outsourcing experience has covered the panoply of IT-related and IT-enabled functions and has included data center operations and hosting, applications process outsourcing (APO) (including applications development and maintenance), applications service provider (ASP) (including applications hosting and management), Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), help desk, telecommunications services (including voice, data, and video services), and network management.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

216 Best Lawyers awards

Kirkland & Ellis LLP logo

Overview

  • Saint Louis University, J.D., graduated 1982
  • Saint Louis University, J.D., graduated 1982

Client Testimonials

I began working with Gregg Kirchhoefer and his team in 2009, and it was one of the best decisions I made that year. Gregg is an outstanding lawyer who provides great results. I joke with Gregg that it is very difficult for me to call him when he is not at his desk. His team is responsive and capable. I wish I had a budget that would allow me to use him on all matters (even outside IT). In negotiations, Gregg has a command of the room or call. It is obvious that he is well respected in the IT community. Probably the best thing I can say about Gregg is that I have learned a great deal from him, and I believe I am a better lawyer for having worked with him.

Gordon Paulson (Kellogg Company)

Gregg and his team led us to an extremely successful outcome and we were very pleased.

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Information Technology Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Information Technology Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Information Technology Law, Chicago (2025)
  • Information Technology Law, Chicago (2016)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Information Technology Law
  • Technology Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • IT Outsourcing Law
Special Focus:
  • Commercial
  • Communications
  • Hardware
  • Intellectual Property
  • Internet
  • Licensing
  • Outsourcing
  • Privacy
  • Software
  • Technology

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