Kilpatrick Continues Growth in Silicon Valley; Adds Prominent M&A Partner 

MENLO PARK (JULY 7) – Kilpatrick announced today that Craig Lilly has joined as a partner and Chair of the Firm’s West Coast Mergers & Acquisition Practice. Mr. Lilly, who will practice from the Silicon Valley office, brings more than 35 years of experience advising clients on domestic and cross-border technology acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, recapitalizations, and minority investments.

This is the second partner that Kilpatrick has added to the Firm’s Menlo Park office in the past week.

“Craig is an outstanding addition to the Mergers & Acquisitions Team,” said Lou Barbieri, Co-Chair of Kilpatrick’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Team. “His deep experience in technology acquisitions, private equity, and cross-border transactions directly strengthens our capabilities in one of the most active M&A markets in the country. Craig’s established relationships with technology companies, financial sponsors and venture-backed companies will expand the team’s capacity for larger and more complex transactions while creating opportunities for clients across the Firm.”

In addition to his mergers and acquisitions practice, Mr. Lilly advises fund sponsors in the formation and structuring of private investment funds, parallel investment vehicles, and offshore funds. His practice generates multi-disciplinary engagements across intellectual property, tax, privacy and data, employee benefits, regulatory, real estate, and litigation—complementing the full breadth of the Firm’s service offerings. Mr. Lilly’s addition deepens Kilpatrick’s bench strength in M&A, private equity, technology transactions, emerging companies, and artificial intelligence matters, and enhances the Firm’s profile among dealmakers and investors in Silicon Valley. He previously practiced at Reed Smith, where he led its West Coast M&A group.

“Kilpatrick’s recognized strength in technology and innovation, combined with the depth of its service platform, creates a compelling opportunity for clients,” said Mr. Lilly. “I am excited to join a firm that is trusted counsel to the world’s most innovative companies and to work alongside talented colleagues to deliver practical, business-centric solutions on transformative transactions.”

Mr. Lilly frequently writes and lectures on M&A, private equity, and corporate finance, and has been quoted in or contributed to Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, The Deal, Reuters, Financier Worldwide, and CFO.com. He serves as a Board Member and Co-Chair of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Silicon Valley M&A Circle and as an Advisor and Co-Chair of the Financial Executives International (FEI) Silicon Valley Transaction Affinity Group Committee. Mr. Lilly has been recognized in the Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyers listing for 2026. He also maintains an active pro bono practice focused on education and mentoring to help diverse individuals and companies achieve sustainable growth.

Mr. Lilly earned his J.D., with Honors and Order of the Coif, from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and his B.B.A., with distinction, from the University of Oklahoma Price College of Business. He is admitted in California and Texas.

About Kilpatrick

Kilpatrick is trusted counsel to the world’s most innovative companies. With recognized strength in the technology sector and a full range of service offerings, we deliver practical, business-centric solutions built upon strong and enduring connections. To serve our ground-breaking clients, we strive to be at the forefront of client service and on the cutting edge of law and technology.

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