J. Kelly Bufton

Ken is a senior member of Kirkland’s dynamic Asset Finance & Securitization Practice Group. According to Chambers 2021, sources consider Ken to be one of the "godfathers of the auto finance industry." Since 1990, he has handled securitizations and principal finance matters involving a variety of asset classes on behalf of originators, underwriters, platform agents, principal finance groups and conduit sponsors. Ken has been extremely active in ABS reform matters. He participated in ...

Andy Shapiro concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation and arbitration with an emphasis on reinsurance, antitrust and class action disputes. Andy is a partner at Butler Rubin Saltarelli & Boyd and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Andy is a litigator and trial attorney who crafts creative strategies to help clients navigate complicated business disputes. With nearly 20 years of experience, Andy excels at utilizing motion practice and pre-trial discovery t...

Alex Cole focuses her real estate practice in the areas of real estate transactions and development, hospitality, international real estate, project finance and construction law. She is routinely involved in large real estate acquisitions (hotel, office and retail) and represents all the various parties in the construction and development process. Some of Alex's past projects include: Park Hyatt Australia, purchase and disposition of The Carlyle in transaction including sale of Rosewood Hotel...

W. Gordon Dobie is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. W. Gordon, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which W. Gordon is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew R. Jones is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Matthew R., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Margaret Anderson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Margaret, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Margaret is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jesse A. Footlik is a Partner with Peck Ritchey, LLC. In addition to representing individuals and families as heirs and beneficiaries, Jesse represents corporate and individual fiduciaries, including financial institutions and healthcare providers. Further, Jesse regularly advises clients involved in various Power of Attorney (POA) disputes, breach of fiduciary duty cases, contested heirships, wrongful death dependency hearings, and will and trust construction or interpretation matters. For o...

With over 23 years of experience, Amy Moor Gaylord focuses her practice on traditional labor matters and employment litigation for both public and private sector employers with an emphasis on National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proceedings, union organizing drives, NLRB-conducted elections, arbitration cases, contract negotiations, and employment discrimination matters. She has experience counseling clients in various industries, including higher education, not-for-profit, public safety (fi...

Richard “Rush” Howell is a litigation partner in Kirkland’s Chicago office. Recognized as a trial lawyer companies call when the issues are too important not to fight, Rush has significant experience serving as trial counsel for companies in high-profile restructuring and product liability cases and representing private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in a wide array of business disputes. His practice spans commercial litigation, restructuring, data security an...

Kevin Van Wart is a partner Kirkland's Chicago office, where he concentrates in complex litigation, including mass tort claims, class action lawsuits, product liability and pharmaceutical claims, and high stakes commercial disputes. Kevin has served as lead trial and appellate counsel in a wide variety of cases throughout the country and teaches trial advocacy at the University of Chicago Law School. The National Law Journal featured Kevin's successful trial work in naming Kirkland to its 200...