Kirk D. Dillman (1956 -2025)

It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Kirk Dillman.

Kirk joined McKool Smith in 2011 with the arrival of Hennigan Dorman in Los Angeles and specialized in complex commercial litigation and trial practice, primarily involving finance, securities, energy, trade secrets, and real estate matters.

During his 40+ years of practice, Kirk served as lead counsel for major real estate developers, technology companies, religious and financial institutions, and high-net-worth individuals, among others, and regularly prosecuted high-profile actions against many of the world’s largest public companies. His notable representations include securing more than $400 million in settlements from Bank of America and others on behalf of lenders in connection with claims arising from the financial collapse of the Fontainebleau Resort and Casino project in Las Vegas.   He also represented the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in a wide variety of commercial matters, including a dispute that made international news and involved the sale of the former convent Villa San Giuseppe to pop star Katy Perry.

Kirk was a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law and earned a degree in Philosophy from Reed College. Over the years, he was consistently recognized as one of the nation’s leading litigators by numerous legal publications, including Chambers USA, Lawdragon, and Best Lawyers, among others. Kirk was awarded the 2018 Jim Robbie Award by the Litigation Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. This award honors trial attorneys in Los Angeles County who best exemplify the qualities of professionalism and civility.

• Longstanding representation of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in a wide variety of commercial matters. Most recently, secured a preliminary injunction and motion for summary adjudication on behalf of the Archdiocese against a local businesswoman who wanted to turn the Villa San Giuseppe into a boutique hotel. With our help, the Archdiocese was able to instead complete a sale of the former convent site to pop star Katy Perry.
• Prosecution of claims in state court on behalf of Cogent Systems, a publicly traded automated fingerprint identification system company, against Northrop Grumman for trade secret misappropriation in connection with a $250 million fingerprint identification contract in the UK.
• Prosecution of an action in federal court against Capital One for misappropriation and partnership claims involving the development and implementation of data-mining technology.
• Prosecution of numerous actions around the country on behalf of large U.S. financial institutions against Wall Street banks for securities fraud in connection with the purchase of more than $1 billion of Enron and Enron-related securities.
• Prosecution of adversary proceedings on behalf of bond holders in the United Airlines bankruptcy concerning the value of airport terminals at LAX and a wide-body aircraft maintenance facility at SFO.
• Prosecution of claims on behalf of bankruptcy trustee against approximately 220 partners of bankrupt national law firm.
• Prosecution in conjunction with a team of top law firms around the country of whistleblower claims against Columbia/HCA Inc. arising out of one of the largest healthcare frauds in the history of the United States.

• Defense of claims against developer for purported interest in major retail shopping center.

• Defense of partnership dispute against developer of a high-rise condominium project.

• Prosecution of fraud and contract claims against Maxtor on behalf of Stormedia in connection with a breach of a long-term supply contract.

• Secured settlements of $415 million from Bank of America as bank agent, directors and officers of Fontainebleau, and others on behalf of lenders in connection with claims arising out of the financial collapse of the Fontainebleau Resort and Casino project in Las Vegas.

• Ranked as a leading lawyer in Commercial litigation for California in Chambers USA, 2021-2025
• Recognized in the Lawdragon guide to the 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, 2020-2025
• Recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Commercial Litigation, 2013-2026
• Named by Super Lawyers, Southern California, 2007-2025

• Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Laughlin E. Waters, United States District Court, Central District of California, 1983-85
• Trustee and President, Center for Law in the Public Interest, 1999-2006
• Trustee, Western Center of Law and Poverty, 2016-Present
• Executive Committee and past-Chair, Litigation Section of Los Angeles County Bar, 2011-Present
• Member, Chancery Club of Los Angeles, 2012-Present
• Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Fellows of American Bar Association