John Donley- A person in a suit and tie speaking at a podium in front of a Lawrence Tech banner.

John Donley practiced law for 40 years in the Chicago office of leading international firm Kirkland & Ellis before retiring in 2024. Early in his career, John tried complex scientific jury trials across the country, including as Dow Corning’s national counsel for silicone breast implant litigation. John later focused on mass-tort bankruptcy cases (Babcock & Wilcox, ABB, Grace) and corporate takeover litigation (Dow Chemical), each of which resulted in a transformative win crucial to his client’s survival and success. Throughout his career, John actively mentored young lawyers and taught trial advocacy inside and outside the firm.

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PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

RESUMÉ IN BRIEF

Education

Harvard College: B.A. in History cum laude 1979; Harvard Crimson editor

University of Chicago: J.D. cum laude 1985, Law Review; M.B.A. with honors 1985

University of Chicago logo where John Donley went to law school.

Career

Kirkland & Ellis Associate 1985-1991, Partner 1991-2017, Of Counsel 2017-2024

Kirkland logo, where John Donley practiced law.

Community

Trustee, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI 2024-current

Seal of Lawrence Technological University, where John Donley is a trustee.

Member, Board of Directors, The Florida Orchestra, St. Petersburg, FL, current

Trustee (Chair, four years) of fund that contributed $57 million to early-childhood education and similar programs, before sunsetting in 2024

Logo of The Donley Foundation with a stylized green log cabin design. John Donley was chairman of the foundation.

RECENT ARTICLES & TALKS

Lawrence Tech Keynote: “29 Miles” (2024)

Cover of an ABA magazine titled "Litigation" with the theme "Storytelling: The Art of the Advocate." written by John Donley
UCLA Law Review banner with school seal. Written by John Donley.

RESTORATION PROJECTS

Image of Affleck house sponsored by John Donley.

Frank Lloyd Wright built this “Usonian House” on a ravine in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1941 for Gregor and Elizabeth Affleck, who donated it to Lawrence Technological University in 1978. LTU recently created an Affleck House endowment that, when fundraising is completed in 2025, will cover all of Affleck House’s maintenance and capital costs in perpetuity.

To learn more, click here. 

Picture of John Donley's historical family cabin.

After leaving Ireland in 1848 during the potato famine, my great-great-grandfather built this log cabin on 29 Mile Road in Lenox, Michigan. In recent years, several generations of Donleys have come together to restore the cabin, which is open to the public and preserved for posterity by the Richmond, MI historical society.

To learn more, click here.