Jeffrey L. Kessler

Jeffrey L. Kessler is Co-Executive Chairman of Winston & Strawn LLP and one of the nation’s most prominent trial lawyers in antitrust, sports law, and complex litigation. With decades of experience, he has served as lead counsel in major jury trials and high-profile disputes involving antitrust, intellectual property, commercial litigation, and government investigations. He has represented U.S. and international companies, professional athletes, and player associations in precedent-setting cases that have reshaped industries and redefined legal standards.

Mr. Kessler earned his B.A., summa cum laude, from Columbia University in 1975 and his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1977, where he was a Kent Scholar and editor of the Columbia Law Review. He is admitted to practice in New York.

Mr. Kessler’s record includes landmark cases such as Alston v. NCAA, where he successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in a unanimous ruling challenging the NCAA’s no-compensation rules, and McNeil v. NFL, which established free agency for NFL players. He also played key roles in Brady v. NFL during the 2011 lockout, numerous high-stakes investigations, and collective bargaining matters that shaped modern sports salary and free agency systems. Beyond sports, he has successfully defended corporations in antitrust and trade disputes, including the landmark Zenith v. Matsushita case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jeffrey L. Kessler’s influence has been recognized through awards such as Law360’s MVP for Sports and Betting, Benchmark Litigation’s “Antitrust Litigator of the Year,” and multiple “Litigation of the Year” honors. He also serves as a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School and has authored leading works on international trade and antitrust law. His leadership in both litigation and legal scholarship has cemented his reputation as one of the foremost trial attorneys in the United States.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner & Co-Executive Chairman, Winston & Strawn LLP
• Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
• Member, American Bar Association (ABA), Antitrust Section
• Member, New York State Bar Association

Licensed State

• New York

Education

• Columbia Law School
  Juris Doctorate (JD)
• Columbia University
  BA with Summa Cum Laude

Awards & Badges