Jay Lefkowitz

Biography

Jay P. Lefkowitz is a senior litigation partner in the New York City office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP and a member of the firm’s worldwide management committee. He is also an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School, where he teaches a seminar on Supreme Court advocacy.

Education

Lefkowitz earned his A.B. in History from Columbia College in 1984 and his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1987, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.

Legal Practice

Lefkowitz has served as lead trial and appellate counsel on cases in securities, antitrust, intellectual property, and breach of contract litigation, as well as white collar defense matters. He represents investment banks, hedge funds, pharmaceutical companies, and telecommunications companies.

Supreme Court Advocacy

Lefkowitz has argued multiple cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. In Pliva Inc. v. Mensing (2011) and Mutual Pharmaceutical Co. v. Bartlett (2013), he persuaded the Court that federal preemption bars certain state law claims against generic drug manufacturers.

Public Service

Lefkowitz served as a senior White House advisor to two U.S. presidents and as the United States Special Envoy on Human Rights in North Korea. Earlier in the George W. Bush administration, he was general counsel in the Office of Management and Budget and deputy director of domestic policy at the White House, where he crafted Bush’s policy on stem cell research.

During the George H.W. Bush administration, Lefkowitz served as director of cabinet affairs and deputy executive secretary to the Domestic Policy Council.

Recognition

The National Law Journal named Lefkowitz one of the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in America.” Law360 named him “MVP of the Year” six years in a row.

Connection to Epstein Case

Lefkowitz was part of Jeffrey Epstein’s legal defense team during the 2007–2008 federal prosecution negotiations. Documents show he communicated with U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta’s office regarding the non-prosecution agreement.

Notes

Jay Lefkowitz appears in the Epstein Files as one of the attorneys representing Jeffrey Epstein during the federal prosecution negotiations.