by 2 Leading Lawyers in USA 2024, in America legal awards. These significant releases follow closely after independently launching the redesigned Best Law Firms. As a result, these awards further enhance the confidence in and recognition of those who are distinguished by this esteemed awards organization.
Jon A. Ballis, P.C.
Jon Ballis is Chairman of the Executive Committee of Kirkland & Ellis, one of the world’s leading law firms with 6,500 professionals (including approximately 3,500 attorneys) around the world committed to the highest quality legal advice and unparalleled client service.
In his role, Jon is responsible for establishing and executing upon Kirkland’s strategic priorities, including advancing business initiatives and promoting a culture of performance, collaboration and collegiality. Commitment to these priorities has helped Kirkland deepen its practice area expertise, extend its worldwide reach and earn industry recognition for workplace culture, including placements on the prestigious Notable Diverse Leaders in Law, Notable Leaders in Sustainability, and Best Law Firms for Women lists. The American Lawyer has also named Kirkland to its A-List for 10 years running.
Jon joined Kirkland in 2005 and served in a variety of leadership roles at the Firm before being named Chairman in 2020. Over his 30-year career, he has been recognized as one of the leading private equity M&A attorneys in the United States and has represented many of the world’s leading private equity firms.
Jon’s passion and commitment to excellence carries into his philanthropic activities and board positions. He is a member of Chicago’s Civic Committee, the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Economic Club and Legal Aid Chicago’s Justice Circle. Jon has acted as a guest lecturer for classes and organizations at Harvard Law School, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and the University of Chicago Law School.
Erica Berthou, P.C.
Erica is a force of nature. In baseball they talk about the five-tool athlete and she’s the five-tool athlete — all the skills in abundance that it takes to be a leading private equity fund formation lawyer. – Lawdragon Insights: Private Funds
Erica Berthou is a partner in the Investment Funds Group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and serves on the Firm’s global Executive Committee. She has counseled U.S. and international investment fund sponsors on hundreds of billions of dollars of private fund formations across a wide variety of strategies. In addition to U.S.- and European-focused funds, Erica has significant experience with emerging markets fund formation, covering all major emerging markets, and the establishment of offices and other firm infrastructure in such markets. Erica has advised both sponsors and institutional buyers in connection with strategic investments in private investment firms and on structuring aspects in preparation of liquidity events for a firm’s owners. Erica regularly gives strategic advice to senior management of private equity firms.
Year after year, Erica is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading attorneys in the field of private investment fund formation. She is ranked Band 1 in both Chambers Global (2023) and Chambers USA (2023). In Chambers Global she is described by clients as “one of the premier fund formation lawyers.” In Chambers USA, one source described her as “very smart, hard-working, very commercial and willing to go the extra mile for client service,” and a client remarked “I’m told she has other clients, but I find it hard to believe because she’s so dedicated to us! It’s like we’re her only client.”
Erica was named to Crain’s New York list of Notable Woman in Law for 2021 and was selected as a “2018 Distinguished Leader” by the New York Law Journal as part of their Professional Excellence Awards—Erica was the only fund formation attorney to be so recognized. In 2017, Erica was named a “Dealmaker of the Year” by The American Lawyer for her role in advising Blackstone Alternative Credit Advisors (fka GSO Capital Partners) in connection with the formation of its third mezzanine fund, one of the world’s largest funds of its type. In addition, Erica is recognized as a Hall of Fame Lawyer (2021 & 2023) and as a Leading Lawyer (2009–2022) by The Legal 500 US, which describes her as a “true star.” Erica was also was named a “2016 MVP” in asset management by Law360 and is featured in IFLR1000’s Women Leaders 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 issues, a directory of the 300 most highly-regarded female attorneys in financial law.
Select Representative Clients
Antin Infrastructure, ArcLight, Bain, BayPine, Blackstone, Bridgepoint, Carlyle, Centerbridge, EQT, FFL, Glendon, GreyLion, H.I.G., Hunter Point, I Squared, JP Morgan, KPS, Macquarie, NewVest, Oaktree, Orix, Quantum, TPG
