Tennessee Solicitor General Matt Rice, widely hailed for his role in defending the state’s law banning irreversible gender transition-inducing puberty blockers and hormones for minors in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, will depart public service this summer to join Kirkland & Ellis as a partner in its litigation practice.
In his new role at Kirkland & Ellis, Rice is expected to handle high-stakes appellate and complex litigation matters, including disputes involving state attorneys general and constitutional law, according to a release by the firm.`
In a statement, Rice (pictured above) said he looks forward to joining what he called a “preeminent litigation practice” and helping clients navigate consequential legal challenges. His background includes prior private practice experience at Williams & Connolly, as well as clerkships for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Judge Sandra Ikuta.
Announcing Rice’s departure, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti emphasized the lasting impact of his tenure in the Attorney General’s office, highlighting both the Supreme Court victory and broader litigation successes across state and federal courts.
“He is a generational legal talent,” Skrmetti said, pointing to Rice’s “unmatched work ethic” and leadership in multistate and high-profile constitutional cases. He added that Rice had been a trusted advisor on complex legal matters and played a central role in advancing Tennessee’s legal agenda.
Rice, who became solicitor general in 2024 after joining the office in 2022, helped oversee Tennessee’s appellate strategy, amicus briefs, and multistate litigation efforts.
His departure leaves a key leadership gap, with the Attorney General’s office indicating that a successor will be named at a later date.
As Tennessee’s chief appellate lawyer, Rice’s exit from state service comes more than a year after he argued Tennessee’s case in United States v. Skrmetti before the Supreme Court. In June 2025, the Court upheld the law in a 6-3 decision, ruling that the law did not trigger heightened scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause and instead satisfied rational basis review.
Skrmetti said at the time that Rice’s performance defending the law was instrumental in shaping the outcome.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Matt Rice” and “Tennessee AG Johnathon Skrmetti” by TN Atty Gen Office.
