Our team

Jeffrey Z. Taufield

Vice Chairman, Partner
Jeff is a founding member of Kekst and has served as a trusted strategic communications advisor to senior executive teams and boards of directors of publicly traded companies and private entities for over 40 years.

He has extensive experience advising clients in matters such as: crisis communications, complex investor relations, CEO transitions, corporate governance, litigation and regulatory agency support, and M&A.

He has extensive experience advising clients in matters such as: crisis communications, complex investor relations, CEO transitions, corporate governance, litigation and regulatory agency support, and M&A.

Jeff has successfully advised and guided hundreds of clients through a broad array of complex and oftentimes sensitive reputational matters and special situations. His expertise lies in his ability to combine sound business judgment with strategic communications solutions to achieve a client’s goals and objectives. He leads many long-term corporate and private equity client relationships and possesses a deep passion for mentoring professionals at the firm.

Jeff was named to Lawdragon's “Global 100 Leaders in Legal Strategy and Consulting” guide for excellence in crisis communications and litigation support in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. 

He holds a B.S. in Finance from Hofstra University with postgraduate study in journalism at New York University.


Experience

Representative Transactions

Advised AerCap Holdings N.V. on its $30 billion acquisition of GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) business from General Electric; Legg Mason, Inc. on its $4.5 billion sale to Franklin Templeton; EMC Corp. on its $67 billion sale to Michael Dell; Piedmont Natural Gas in its $6.7 billion sale to Duke Energy; Freescale Semiconductor on its $40 billion market cap sale to NXP Semiconductors; Dell Inc. on its $24 billion going private transaction; Johnson & Johnson on its $19.7 billion acquisition of Synthes; The Warnaco Group on its $2.9 billion sale to PVH Corp.

Litigation Support

Over the years, Jeff has developed highly impactful communications strategies for clients who faced federal and state inquiries, regulatory investigations and settlements, often involving the: SEC, DOJ, FDA, DEA, etc. involving companies in the financial services, private equity, health care, technology, and banking industries.

Crisis and Issues Management

Throughout his career at Kekst, Jeff has worked on dozens of franchise-threatening crisis communications matters across a wide variety of special situations, including: guiding Swiss banks during a multi-year investigation into “hidden assets” from World War II; and rebuilding Fred Alger Management following the 9/11 attack on its then-headquarters in the World Trade Center.


Contact Information

New York

New York (Headquarters)

1675 Broadway, 30th Floor

New York, NY 10019