AJC Chicago Honors Sanford E. Perl

AJC Chicago is pleased to announce that Board Member and Kirkland & Ellis LLP Partner Mr. Sanford E. Perl has been awarded the esteemed Judge Learned Hand Human Relations Award by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contribution to the legal profession and philanthropic and cultural endeavors.  AJC honored Mr. Sanford “Sandy” Perl at an awards dinner held at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago on November 28.

Presented annually to a distinguished Chicago attorney, the Judge Learned Hand Awards were established in memory of the celebrated jurist who served more than 50 years on the federal bench, many of them as Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.  Widely admired as a dean among American judges, Learned Hand is famous not only for the extensive range of decisions he rendered in thousands of cases, but also for his admiration and defense of liberty, urging us to put our faith in a fundamental respect for human dignity and individual rights.

Mr. Perl, a native of Glencoe, Illinois, is consistently recognized as one of the top lawyers by leading sources in the industry.  He is active in both civic and charitable causes, including leadership positions with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Golden Apple Foundation and the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies.

“Sandy’s determination to advance the rights for all minorities, not just the Jewish people, knows no bounds,” said Jack S. Levin, Kirkland & Ellis Partner and past recipient of the Judge Learned Hand Award.  “Sandy is an incredibly worthy recipient of this prestigious award.”

“Sandy Perl has made a big difference for his community and his country,” said U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, the keynote speaker.  “I salute Sandy for being a leader of the new generation who will lead the fight for democracy.”

“It is a privilege to call Sandy my friend,” said U.S. Representative Bob Dold.  “This award is a fitting show of our admiration and appreciation for all that he does to improve our community here at home and to advance the causes of peace and security worldwide.”

“Sandy is a leader in Chicago’s Jewish community, a leader in the legal profession and clearly a leader and a great example to those that know him,” said AJC Chicago Campaign Chairman Ron Gidwitz.  “He is truly deserving of this award in every way.”

Mr. Perl joined Kirkland & Ellis in 1990 and has been a partner since 1996.  He serves on the Firm's Finance Committee, Administrative Committee and Nonshare Partner Review Committee. He is also Chairman of the Firm's Audit Committee.

Mr. Perl received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, magna cum laude, and his B.S. from the University of Illinois in Accountancy.  While at Michigan, he was a member of the Order of the Coif.  He received the Elijah Watt Sells Award on the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a 1,500-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex litigation, dispute resolution and arbitration, corporate, restructuring, tax and intellectual property and technology matters.  The Firm has offices in Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.

AJC committed to building bridges, promoting human rights and supporting Israel through global Jewish advocacy.  AJC’s Chicago work engages key community stakeholders to establish profound and long-lasting understanding and relationships.