Chicago Area

[caption id="attachment_533" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Exterior view of Kirkland & Ellis' new world headquarters from the south bank of the Chicago River."][/caption] Kirkland & Ellis LLP recently moved its headquarters into a new high-tech building at 300 N. La Salle along the north bank of the Chicago River. The tower was designed by prominent Chicago architectural firm SOM (Sears Tower, John Hancock). Kirkland & Ellis had been based in the Aon Center since 1972 (then known as the Standard Oil Building). The firm has nearly 700 lawyers spread over 26 floors of the 60-story high-rise. The building's environmentally-sustainable design features an exclusive conference center, expanded WiFi and Blackberry service, video conferencing and environmentally-friendly lighting and energy systems. Illinois Lawyer Now visited the new Kirkland offices and compiled a photo gallery of the space. Kirkland & Ellis LLP has 1,500 attorneys around the world representing clients in complex litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, corporate and tax, restructuring, real estate and intellectual property and technology matters. "The law offices of ..." will be a regular feature on Illinois Lawyer Now.

[caption id="attachment_650" align="alignright" width="300" caption="New Harvard Law Dean Martha Minow~Justin Ide/Harvard News Office"][/caption] Harvard Law School named Martha Minow as its new dean Thursday. Minow, who has been a member of the Law School faculty since 1981, is the daughter of Newton Minow, senior counsel at Sidley Austin. The Tribune's Chicago Law has the story. Martha Minow replaces Elena Kagan, who became U.S. solicitor general earlier this year, on July 1.

The anticipated federal overhaul of the nation's health care system has law firms looking to add attorneys with health care expertise. Law.com has the story.