Michael C. Keats is leaving Goldman Sachs to join Kirkland & Ellis in New York.

Keats was a managing director and associate general counsel at Goldman Sachs in the litigation and regulatory proceedings group.

“Michael brings a unique combination of private practice and in-house experience with litigation and regulatory matters facing financial institutions,” said Kirkland’s Jeffrey C. Hammes.  “His experience at Goldman Sachs during a period of extraordinary change and enforcement activity on Wall Street will be a tremendous asset to our clients. We welcome him to the firm.”

Keats, 43, holds a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and a M.A. and B.A. from Brandeis University.

“My experience at Goldman Sachs will enable me to bring unique insight and perspective to the firm and its clients,” Keats said. “Kirkland provides a strong platform from which to build a practice in civil litigation and enforcement for financial institution clients. I look forward to working alongside the Firm’s outstanding litigators and white collar and securities enforcement attorneys, many of whom I have known for a very long time.”