Christopher G. Michel

Christopher G. Michel is an associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses on appellate and complex litigation. He has drafted briefs and motions on a wide range of topics, including the federal separation of powers, administrative law, federal jurisdiction, criminal law, intellectual property, tax law, property rights, and the First and Second Amendments. Among other significant victories, he drafted a brief contending that Administrative Law Judges at the Securities and Exchange Commission are officers of the United States who must be selected pursuant to the Appointments Clause—a position adopted by the Tenth Circuit. He also successfully argued an appeal before the Fourth Circuit on behalf of an indigent client that resulted in a unanimous published opinion favorably resolving a treaty interpretation issue of first impression in the circuit. In addition to his litigation practice, Chris co-teaches first-year constitutional law as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center and serves on the Executive Committee of the Federalist Society’s Working Group on Federalism and Separation of Powers. He is also a member of the Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court and the D.C. Circuit Historical Society, and he has volunteered as an attorney mentor for local high school students participating in the Society’s moot court program. Chris previously served as a law clerk to Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., of the Supreme Court of the United States and Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Before law school, he spent more than five years in the White House as a speechwriter to President George W. Bush, ultimately serving as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting. He drafted and edited more than 500 presidential speeches, including multiple State of the Union addresses. He later assisted President Bush with his memoir, Decision Points. He resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and two daughters.