Philip S. "Phil" Beck

Mike is a patent attorney who helps clients protect their complex technologies and innovations through representation on all aspects of patent law, including patent counseling, advice and prosecution, transactions, contested proceedings, and opinion preparation. He manages nationwide patent prosecution efforts for assorted technologies, overseeing similar efforts internationally, and counseling clients on the development and implementation of long-term patent portfolio strategies. He is regis...

Matt Regan is a partner in Kirkland's Chicago office. He has broad experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of commercial litigation matters in both state and federal courts. Matt's cases have involved claims in the areas of antitrust and trade regulation, accountant/auditor malpractice, class actions, products liability, software consulting, fraud and breach of contract, and other complex commercial disputes. The Legal 500 U.S. recognized Matt for his work in Energy Lit...

Ed Wicks focuses his practice in the areas of real estate transactions and development, secured financings and workouts, leasing transactions and hospitality law. In his years of experience, he has: Represented public and private hospitality companies in the acquisition, management, financing, debt restructuring and disposition of domestic and foreign hotel and resort properties; Represented lenders, special servicers and borrowers in securitized financings, loan enforcement and workouts, and...

Steve Patton is of counsel to the Litigation group in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Steve has extensive experience trying cases and arguing appeals in federal and state courts throughout the country in a wide variety of commercial disputes. He has also served as an advisor to senior management in a number of “bet the company” exposures and negotiated several multibillion settlements in complex disputes. Steve is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers a...

Kathleen Meyer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Patent Law. Kathleen, 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 Kathleen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kerry R. Peck is the managing partner of the Chicago law firm Peck Ritchey, LLC. He is the past President of the 22,000 lawyer Chicago Bar Association. His clients include families, hospitals, banks, the State of Illinois, County of Cook, and City of Chicago. For over ten consecutive years, he has been selected by his peers in statewide surveys of Illinois attorneys as a “Super Lawyer”, an attorney to whom other attorneys would refer their family, and he was named a member of the ...

Steve Napolitano is a corporate partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Steve represents private equity funds, family offices and public and private corporations in connection with leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, going private transactions, growth equity financings, senior and mezzanine debt financings, joint ventures, recapitalizations and restructurings. He also has substantial experience representing private equity sponsors, corporations and senior managemen...

David represents management nationwide in virtually all areas of labor and employment law. David’s goal is to identify what each client seeks to achieve and then realize that end. David’s dedication to service is manifest in his accessibility to the clients he serves. A direct communicator, David is valued by clients and colleagues alike for providing practical and on-point legal advice, clear answers to complex questions, and workable business solutions. With more than 30 years o...

Ronald Safer manages complex, high-stakes cases with a focus in civil litigation. Ron has successfully represented companies and individuals in federal and state court involving matters such as commercial disputes, accounting fraud, tax fraud, anti-kickback violations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), environmental violations, and securities fraud. He represents clients before the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Au...

David W. Wirt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy. David W., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.