Jeffrey L. Kessler, Co-Executive Chairman of Winston & Strawn, is one of the world’s leading antitrust, sports law, and trial lawyers. He has been lead counsel in some of the most complex antitrust, sports law, and IP law cases in the country, including major jury trials, and has represented a number of U.S. and international companies in criminal and civil investigations in the antitrust, sports law, trade, and FCPA areas.
Notably, Jeffrey has litigated some of the most famous sports-antitrust cases in history, including the landmark college players-brought Alston v. NCAA case, in which, following Jeffrey’s oral argument, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously affirmed his and co-counsel’s earlier “groundbreaking and disruptive” trial victory against the NCAA in this antitrust challenge to its no-compensation rules. Recently, he achieved a landmark equal pay class action settlement for the members of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. Jeffrey also maintains an active pro bono practice.
Jeffrey has been recognized by numerous publications, most recently in The American Lawyer as a “Litigator of the Week” and by The National Law Journal as a “Litigation Trailblazer”. Jeffrey was recently recognized as an individual who helped grow the NBA into the global powerhouse it is today on its 75th anniversary by Sports Business Journal. In March 2022 at the Benchmark Litigation East Coast Awards, Jeffrey was honored as the Antitrust Litigator of the Year.
Jeffrey was honored by the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation (AJCF) at their annual Gala in New York on June 1, 2023, and awarded the AJCF Advocacy Award for his profound, impactful work to effect meaningful change for all. Jeffrey’s outstanding contributions serve as the paradigmatic example of fighting hatred, for everyone, especially given his remarkable efforts to stand up for those who aren’t able to stand up for themselves.
Jeffrey received a J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Kent Scholar and on the board of editors for the Columbia Law Review. He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Columbia University.