W. Neil Eggleston

Neil Eggleston is a litigation partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Neil has a distinguished record of public service, and has held a number of senior government roles. He was White House Counsel to President Obama from 2014 to 2017, and advised the president on all legal and constitutional issues across a broad spectrum of domestic and foreign policy matters. Earlier in his career, Neil served as Associate Counsel to President Clinton from 1993 to 1994. He also served as Deputy Chief Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee Investigating the Iran/Contra Affair (1987–1988); Assistant U.S. Attorney (1981–1987); and Chief Appellate Attorney for the Southern District of New York (1986–1987).

He regularly advises corporations and corporate boards on a wide range of legal issues, including corporate governance, civil litigation, internal investigations, and allegations of fraud. He has significant experience representing corporate audit committees in SEC and audit-related issues. He also has broad experience advising individuals and companies facing Congressional and regulatory investigations.

Neil has represented high-profile public figures, including the former White House Chief of Staff in the prosecution of the former Governor of Illinois, the Office of the President of the United States in the Whitewater/Lewinsky investigation, a Secretary of Labor in an Independent Counsel investigation, a Secretary of Transportation in a Department of Justice investigation, and U.S. Senators in ethics inquiries.

Clients have said Neil has “good judgment” and is the “person you want to have fighting in your corner,” who “not only offers superb judgment, but also approaches the practice of law with a passion and then turns that passion into extraordinary creativity for getting results.” He is commended for his deep experience in white-collar criminal defense work as well as securities litigation and securities regulation work, according to Chambers USA. Clients also noted that Neil “displays an excellent manner with boards and senior executives and regulators,” according to The Legal 500 U.S.

Neil served as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1978–1979) and for Chief Justice Warren E. Burger on the U.S. Supreme Court (1979–1980).

Neil has taught at Harvard Law School and also counsels corporations on compliance programs and other preventative measures.