Kannon Shanmugam appointed to Harvard Corporation

Kannon K. Shanmugam ’93, J.D. ’98, a distinguished and prolific appellate lawyer and alumnus of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, will be welcomed into the Harvard Corporation as its newest member, as announced by the University on Thursday. Shanmugam will take over from Theodore V. Wells Jr., J.D. ’76, M.B.A. ’76, who steps down from the board after 12 years of dedicated service.

Highlighting his “profound commitment to Harvard and the vital importance of academic principles and freedom,” President Alan Garber and Senior Fellow Penny Pritzker disclosed Shanmugam’s election in a communication to the Harvard community on Thursday afternoon.

“Kannon Shanmugam is one of the nation’s most respected and admired appellate advocates, who has also provided service to various educational institutions,” remarked Garber and Pritzker. “Aside from his broad experience advising and representing significant organizations on intricate issues, he is recognized for his intellectual sharpness and inquiry, tremendous work ethic, approachable demeanor, adeptness in engaging individuals with diverse viewpoints, and commitment to academic distinction.” 

Shanmugam has represented 39 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and has participated in over 150 additional appeals in courts nationwide, including all 13 federal courts of appeals and multiple state courts. Formerly a partner at the law firm Williams & Connolly and a member of the Office of the Solicitor General in the Department of Justice, Shanmugam is currently a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, where he leads the firm’s Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation Practice, chairs its office in Washington, D.C., and co-chairs the Litigation Department.   

Shanmugam has also held several advisory and governance roles at regional educational institutions, including a past chair position on the board of trustees of Thurgood Marshall Academy, a public charter high school in Washington, D.C.; a current trustee of both the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the University of Kansas Endowment; and a former trustee of the Association of Marshall Scholars. 

“It is a privilege to have been invited to serve on the Harvard Corporation, and I am eager to share my perspective in the Corporation’s discussions in the years to come,” stated Shanmugam. “My motivation for accepting this role is straightforward: I owe everything to Harvard. Harvard provided me opportunities that I would have never encountered, and it introduced me to a multitude of individuals and fresh ideas.

“Harvard has navigated challenging times and continues to face significant hurdles, but it accomplishes tremendous good for society,” he added. “Harvard ranks among our nation’s most significant institutions, and when an institution encounters difficulties, I believe the path forward is to engage collaboratively to address the issues while upholding its foundational commitment to academic excellence. I anticipate playing my part in assisting Harvard to confront these challenges and to enhance the University for future generations.”

A native of Kansas, Shanmugam’s father was an electrical engineering professor at the University of Kansas, following his parents’ immigration from India. In 1993, Shanmugam graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College, where he majored in classics and served as the editor in chief of the Harvard Independent. He furthered his studies as a Marshall Scholar at Oxford, earning a Master of Letters degree in classical languages and literature. Shanmugam was the executive editor of the Harvard Law Review prior to graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1998. 

After completing law school, Shanmugam clerks for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and for Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court. He entered private practice as an associate at Kirkland & Ellis and later took on the role of assistant to the solicitor general in the Department of Justice from 2004 to 2008.

Shanmugam practiced as a partner at Williams & Connolly for over ten years following his departure from the solicitor general’s office, rising to become one of the country’s most sought-after appellate attorneys. He served as co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Committee and as president of the Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court — an organization committed to advancing the rule of law through exemplary conduct, education, and mentorship. He is the only practicing American lawyer who has the title of honorary bencher at the Inner Temple, one of the four English Inns of Court. He has also instructed on Supreme Court advocacy at Georgetown University Law Center and is an elected member of the American Law Institute and a contributor to the Federalist Society.

Ranked as a Star Individual by Chambers USA, Shanmugam was a finalist for The American Lawyer’s Litigator of the Year award in both 2022 and 2024, and he was named Appellate Litigator of the Year by Benchmark Litigation in 2021.

As per the University’s charter, Shanmugam was elected by the Corporation members with the endorsement of the University’s Board of Overseers. He will commence his tenure on July 1 as Wells exits the board. Garber and Pritzker expressed gratitude for Wells’ contributions in their message to the community.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our colleague Ted Wells, who has excellently served the Corporation and the University since 2013 with his sharp intellect, impressive legal acumen, steadfast commitment to academic principles, and compassionate concern for others,” noted Garber and Pritzker. “With Kannon Shanmugam, we are fortunate to gain someone well-equipped to carry forward and expand upon Ted’s extraordinary legacy, while providing new insights and valuable perspectives as we address the challenging yet important work ahead.”

The Harvard Corporation, officially recognized as the President and Fellows of Harvard College, was established in 1650 and assumes fiduciary responsibility concerning the University’s academic, financial, and physical resources and overall welfare. Chaired by the president, the 13-member Corporation is one of Harvard’s two governing bodies. Members of Harvard’s alternate governing body, the Board of Overseers, are selected by holders of Harvard degrees.