Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Life Sciences

Jeanna Wacker is an experienced lead trial lawyer and partner in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She is recognized as a leader in the field of life sciences patent litigation. Jeanna has been recognized by Chambers USA for Intellectual Property: Patent in New York in 2022–2025, with reports saying that “Jeanna is an excellent attorney,” that she “really knows her stuff and is very efficient in the way she gives advice” and that she “handles really high-quality pharma and biotech matters." In addition to recognition from Chambers USA, Jeanna was recognized in The Legal 500 United States for Healthcare - Life Sciences (2023–2025) and Patent Litigation (2018), and was named a New York Super Lawyer in 2019–2024 by Super Lawyers magazine. She has also been recognized in IAM Patent 100 in 2022–2025 and was named among Lawdragon’s Leading Global IP Lawyers in 2025. In addition, Jeanna was shortlisted for litigator of the year in New York by Managing IP Americas Awards in 2025.

Jeanna concentrates her practice on patent litigation for clients in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical and medical device industries. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants at all stages of litigation, including trials (bench and jury), appeals and in inter partes reviews before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, Jeanna advises pharmaceutical and biotech companies on intellectual property aspects of corporate merger agreements and product acquisitions.

Jeanna’s noteworthy matters have received media coverage from LMG Life Sciences (2023 LMG Life Sciences Americas Awards), New York Law Journal (2024 New York IP Litigation Department of the Year), Managing IP and Life Sciences Intellectual Property Review, among others.

Her clients have included some of the largest companies in the life sciences area such as, Astellas Pharmaceuticals, Moderna, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Hoffman La-Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, E.I. du Pont de Nemours, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Jeanna has established a reputation as a leading litigator in the life sciences field and is regularly invited to speak on hot topics in this area.

New York State Bar Association

New York Intellectual Property Law Association, Former Board Member, Former Co-Chair of Women in IP Law Committee

Boston University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2003

University of Minnesota, B.S., Biochemistry & Genetics and Cell Biology, 1998