Jay B. Stephens has joined Kirkland & Ellis in its Washington, D.C. office.
Jay Stephens
“During his distinguished career in government, private practice and business, Jay Stephens has earned an impeccable reputation as a trusted lawyer, business advisor and leader,” said Jeffrey C. Hammes, chairman of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee. “His experience handling the most complex and wide-ranging litigation, regulatory and corporate governance issues will be a tremendous asset to our Firm and to our clients facing complicated litigation and increasing compliance and regulatory obligations.”
Stephens joins Kirkland from Raytheon Company, where he served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary from 2002 to 2015.
In his role as general counsel, Stephens led the company’s legal and regulatory affairs, ethics and compliance programs, and corporate governance activities.
He also oversaw corporate staff activities in the areas of risk management, safety and environmental quality.
He retired from Raytheon in June, and served as a senior adviser to the company until the end of 2015.
Prior to joining Raytheon, Stephens was the Associate Attorney General of the United States, where he provided leadership and policy oversight for the civil components of the U.S. Department of Justice, including the Antitrust, Civil, Civil Rights, Environment and Natural Resources, and Tax divisions.
He also served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1988 to 1993, where he led the nation’s largest federal prosecutor’s office, and as White House Deputy Counsel to President Ronald Reagan from 1986 to 1988.
Before becoming the Associate Attorney General, Mr. Stephens served as Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Honeywell International.
Prior to joining Honeywell, he was a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP, and a co-managing partner of the firm’s Washington office.
Earlier in his career he served in a variety of positions in the Department of Justice and in the private sector, including Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Assistant Special Watergate Prosecutor.
“Jay Stephens is a preeminent lawyer of his generation,” said Mark Filip, government, regulatory and internal investigations partner and a member of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee. “He has successfully handled such a broad range of important matters, as a longtime leader at Raytheon, and at the U.S. Justice Department in his many public service roles, and he will be a great asset to our clients and their leaders. We are thrilled he has joined our government investigations team.”
“Jay is one of the most respected lawyers in Washington, and has worked on some of the most challenging issues — for public companies and the government — over the years. We are thrilled that he has decided to join us, and to work together in addressing our clients’ needs,” said Eugene Assaf, a Washington, D.C.-based litigation partner and a member of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee.