We are saddened to share the news of the passing of Kirk D. Dillman of McKool Smith. Dillman served as the LACBA Litigation Section Chair from 2015-16 and was honored with the 2018 Jim Robie Professionalism and Civility Award. Read more about Kirk from his friend and colleague Brian Kabateck.

A Legacy of Kindness, Professionalism, and Friendship

By Brian Kabateck

Kirk D. Dillman (pictured) was one of the nicest people I have ever known, not just in the practice of law, but in my entire life. After my father, he was the kindest. He was not just kind to me (which can be admittingly a bit of a challenge at times) but he was kind to everyone. But his kindness was never misunderstood as a weakness as opposing counsel came to understand. The year I was president-elect of the LA County Bar. Kirk received the Jim Robie award for civility, there may never be another more deserving recipient.

He was my firm's lawyer, my personal lawyer, but most importantly he was my friend. He was our neighbor until he moved about a mile away a couple of years ago, but in the metaphysical sense, he remained my neighbor in so many ways. Kirk embodied everything all of us should inspire to be as lawyers and as people.

Most importantly he was a loving husband to his wife, Lori Dillman, who he met when they both attended UCLA law school. He was a fantastic father to his three children, including one of his daughters who was married this past July. Kirk clerked for Laughlin Waters, the storied Federal Judge and D Day army captain after law school.

Kirk remained a mentor not just to me but to our younger lawyers including Shant Karnikian who recently became our firm's managing partner after Kirk told me he approved.

He was amazingly funny and witty not to mention wickedly smart. We spoke three days before he died because he showed up 37 days early to a memorial for my brother-in-law. He not only found his miscalendaring of the event humorous but laughed at the fact that the swanky country club parked his big truck in the employee parking lot instead of with the members' cars. That's right, Kirk drove a big pick up truck in a city where the year, make and model of your Italian, German or British car is as important as your address.

As shocking and tragic as Kirk's passing remains, he lived and loved life every day. He has hiked the John Muir trail by himself after his hiking partner dropped out because of an injury. He spoke of his family like many of us speak about our cases or recent victories. But he also was passionate about doing the right thing. We can live our best lives by being our best Kirk Dillman everyday.