John Kabealo and Evan Sills Join Kirkland & Ellis as Partners in International Trade & National Security.
Kirkland & Ellis has announced that John Kabealo has joined the firm as a partner in its International Trade & National Security Practice Group. Alongside him, Evan Sills will also come aboard as a partner.
Mr. Kabealo arrives with decades of experience guiding clients through some of the most challenging cases before federal oversight bodies, including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), and the group informally known as Team Telecom.
His work spans critical industries such as telecommunications, defense, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and financial services, among others.
“John is a talented and pragmatic lawyer with unprecedented experience advising on national security regulatory reviews. He is a strong complement to our existing market-leading team and will serve as another valuable resource to our clients navigating an increasingly complex national security environment.” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee.
Before joining Kirkland, Mr. Kabealo led Kabealo Law, a boutique firm he founded that specialized in national security regulatory matters.
His clients included multinational investment firms, defense contractors, public companies, and startups. John Kabealo, who holds degrees from Princeton University and the University of Virginia School of Law, has earned recognition from Chambers and Partners as one of the nation’s leading CFIUS attorneys.
Reflecting on his move, John Kabealo said, “Kirkland has built a best-in-class International Trade & National Security team. I am thrilled to play a role in its continued success and to support the Firm’s unparalleled transactional practices.”
Mr. Sills also brings significant regulatory experience, particularly in CFIUS and Team Telecom matters. He advises on cybersecurity, data security, and broader compliance issues.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Sills served at the U.S. Department of Justice in the National Security Division’s Foreign Investment Review Section, where he reviewed hundreds of transactions and played a lead role in negotiating national security agreements for high-profile deals.
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