Behavioral and Social Sciences Distinguished Alumni

2024 Distinguished Alumni

Stuart Castillas

BA, Economics & Public Administration, Class of 1996

Honor Year:  2024

Current position: Partner at Kirkland & Ellis

Stuart Casillas graduated from Chico State in 1996 with degrees in economics and business administration and currently is a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco, California. As a student on campus, Casillas worked as a student assistant in both the economics department and the president’s office and was a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the Economics Honor Society. After graduation, Stuart entered The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law where he received his JD degree in 1999. In 1999 he accepted a position as an associate with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman where he gained experience with complex business transactions, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, project finance transactions, and international joint ventures. After five and one-half years with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Stuart accepted a position with Kirkland & Ellis where he currently works. As a merger and acquisition partner, Casillas focuses his practice on the representation of private equity funds and their portfolio companies; and acts as lead counsel in various private equity transactions, including leveraged and management buyouts, growth equity investments, divestitures, and restructurings and workouts. His experience with clients ranges from private equity funds to public and privately held companies, both domestic and international. His extensive experience includes negotiating and completing transactions in a wide variety of industries, including software, manufacturing, consumer products, computer hardware, post-secondary education, food service, retail, airline, financial services, oil and gas services, and logistics.

Learn more about Stuart Casillas in Chico State Today