CHICAGO, IL – November 9, 2022 – Andrianna (Annie) Kastanek, former Assistant US Attorney and Chief of Appeals of the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, joined Jenner & Block this week as a partner in the firm’s Chicago office and as a member of the firm’s Appellate and Supreme Court and Investigations, Compliance, and Defense practices.
Ms. Kastanek brings to Jenner & Block sterling credentials as an appellate lawyer, investigator, and advisor on legal and strategic issues. As Chief of Appeals in the Northern District of Illinois, she supervised the US Attorney’s Office’s criminal appellate practice before the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and served as a legal advisor to the US Attorney and other prosecutors in the office, including for the office’s most complex fraud, public corruption, national security, and racketeering prosecutions. She supervised brief writing and oral argument in more than 200 cases before the Seventh Circuit and personally argued more than 40 federal appeals. Prior to her role as Chief of Appeals, she led complex investigations into public corruption, financial fraud, and computer crimes and represented the United States in 12 federal criminal trials.
“We are delighted to welcome Annie to Jenner & Block’s appellate team, expanding the Appellate and Supreme Court Practice in Chicago,” said Co-Managing Partners Katya Jestin and Randall Mehrberg. “Her vast experience in leading appellate matters and first-chairing complex investigations better positions us to successfully represent clients in high stakes matters, particularly in the Seventh Circuit.”
Ms. Kastanek, who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy and Judge Kenneth F. Ripple of the Seventh Circuit, joins a thriving and diverse Appellate and Supreme Court practice led by Chair Ian Heath Gershengorn and Co-Chairs Jessica Ring Amunson, Matthew S. Hellman, and Michael T. Brody. Mr. Brody and Partners Clifford W. Berlow and Gabriel K. Gillett lead the practice in the Chicago office. The practice includes a number of former US Supreme Court clerks, US Court of Appeals clerks, state appellate court clerks, and members of the bars of every US Court of Appeals in the country. Ms. Kastanek is the second lateral partner to join the practice this autumn, following the arrival of the former Solicitor General of Virginia, Michelle Kallen.
“Annie is a highly regarded and superb appellate and trial lawyer whose experience and talent will add more depth to our already extraordinarily diverse appellate practice,” said Mr. Gershengorn. “Her knowledge of the federal court system, particularly in the Seventh Circuit, complements our deep bench and will serve clients across an incredible range of industries and issues.”
The firm has three cases (Moore v. Harper, Brackeen v. Haaland, and Abitron Austria GmbH v. Hetronic International Inc) pending before the US Supreme Court this Term. In addition to its Supreme Court practice, the firm’s appellate team handles appeals all over the country, providing counsel for Native American tribes, corporations, and trade associations. Ms. Kastanek has extensive subject matter knowledge in the areas of mail, wire, bank, tax, commodities/securities, healthcare fraud, public corruption, civil rights, racketeering, and computer and cybercrime that will further enhance the firm’s active federal appellate practice.
In addition, Ms. Kastanek will work on trial and investigative matters at the firm.
“Annie’s vast experience serving as lead counsel on numerous high-profile investigations, ranging from public corruption to fraud and computer crimes, makes her a tremendous asset for our Investigations, Compliance, and Defense practice,” said Partner Reid J. Schar, who led the 2021 investigation for the Chicago Blackhawks and previously served as an Assistant US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “Her government experience informs her investigatory approach and provides clients with valuable insight and strategic guidance.”
“I’m thrilled to be joining Jenner & Block to help expand its federal appellate work, including in the Seventh Circuit,” said Ms. Kastanek. “Jenner’s appellate team is extraordinary, and I am honored to be partnering with them to support the firm’s clients as they navigate high-stakes appellate matters. I also look forward to bringing my knowledge of and experience in investigations to the firm.”
Ms. Kastanek graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern University and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. She has taught courses on the US Supreme Court as an adjunct professor at Northwestern’s law school.