James F. Basile

James F. Basile is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in the Bay Area. With over three decades of courtroom experience, he leads the firm’s litigation training programs and previously served as head of the Bay Area litigation group. His practice centers on high-stakes litigation, representing top corporations in antitrust, securities, defamation, and commercial disputes.

James earned his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1986 and his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 1989, where he served as Executive Articles Editor for the Notre Dame Law Review. He is admitted to practice in California, New York, and Washington, D.C., and appears before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple U.S. Courts of Appeals.

James has successfully represented Fortune 500 companies such as Facebook, Morgan Stanley, General Motors, and Siemens in complex matters ranging from monopolization and class action defense to product liability and corporate governance. Notable victories include defeating antitrust claims against Facebook, securing dismissals in shareholder litigation, and winning high-profile defamation suits for General Motors and Chiquita Brands.

Beyond litigation, James advises private equity firms and public companies on fiduciary duties and regulatory risk. He also leads Kirkland’s Firmwide trial advocacy program, mentoring the next generation of litigators. His commitment to litigation excellence is reflected in accolades from Best Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and Legal 500.

James F. Basile is also active in public interest and education, serving on advisory boards for the University of Notre Dame and the Alliance for Catholic Education, and as a co-founder of the Silicon Valley Urban Debate League. James is a trusted advocate for complex commercial litigation, known for courtroom success, leadership, and client-centered strategy.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
• Chair, Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund
• Co-Founder Director, Silicon Valley Urban Debate League
• Undergraduate Advisory Council, University of Notre Dame
• Director, LaSalle College High School
• Advisory Council, Alliance for Catholic Education

Licensed State

• District of Columbia
• California
• New York

Education

• Notre Dame Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Notre Dame
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges