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 LLP before retiring in 2024. He first worked on mass-tort litigation, trying complex scientific cases to juries throughout the country, including as national counsel for silicone breast implant litigation for Dow Corning Corp. and its parent, The Dow Chemical Company. John later specialized in mass-tort bankruptcy cases (Babcock & Wilcox, ABB, Grace) and corporate takeover litigation (Dow Chemical), each of which resulted in a transformative win crucial to the client’s survival and success. Throughout his career, John mentored young lawyers and taught evidence and trial advocacy inside and outside the firm.

For more detail, please click below:

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 featuring a maroon and white seal with a phoenix and Latin text.

Career

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

White letter 'K' on a blue background.

Community

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

Seal of Lawrence Technological University, featuring "Theory and Practice" in the center, established in 1932, located in Southfield, Michigan.

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.

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."
UCLA Law Review banner with school seal

RESTORATION PROJECTS

Modern architectural house surrounded by trees and greenery, featuring a flat roof and extensive use of wood and brick.

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. 

Black and white photo of a rustic log cabin in winter, with icicles hanging from the roof, bare trees surrounding it, and snow on the ground.

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.