Firm Profile > Kirkland & Ellis International LLP > London, England
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP Offices
30 ST MARY AXE
LONDON
EC3A 8AF
England
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Acquisition finance Tier 1
'Highly plugged into the market' as a result of its work for a huge roster of large and mid cap private equity sponsors, Kirkland & Ellis International LLP is at the leading edge of the most sophisticated financing techniques across the credit spectrum and is able to be 'aggressive on terms at the right times', as a result of being unencumbered by having any lender side relationships. Able to effectively finance deals incorporating both UK and New York law governed products (including high yield bonds) and at the forefront of a market which continues to see the importing of US style market terms on European deals, the team has the flexibility and judgement to effectively serve clients' needs. Benefiting from many years' experience between them, high profile partner Neel Sachdev and the 'technically strong' Stephen Lucas co-head the team and both lead by example, regularly picking up market defining mandates; including Sachdev's work for a consortium of sponsors (including Apax and Warburg Pincus) on the $3.4bn take private of Inmarsat Plc - which involved a US dollar denominated bid for a UK sterling listed company. Christopher Shield also remains a lynchpin of the practice as a result of his strong ties with a plethora of large cap European and US sponsors and his ability to structure transactions at all levels of the debt capital structure. Michael Steele has a flourishing reputation handling leveraged financings across a spectrum of asset classes, including real estate, and is a key member of a team that also includes the 'exceptional' Kirsteen Nicol .
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
The team is available 24/7 and adopts a real client service model, even when not on a specific assignment.
The team is highly plugged into the market and is able to be aggressive on terms at the right times.
Stephen Lucas is technically strong.
The exceptional Kirsteen Nicol has good commercial judgement, is responsive and can adapt to the situation.
Key clients
Advent International
Apax
Bain Capital Private Equity
BC Partners
Blackstone
CapVest
Investindustrial
Summit Partners
Thoma Bravo
Triton
Warburg Pincus
Vista Equity Partners
Corporate restructuring & insolvency Tier 1
Led by the 'truly formidable, helpful and experienced' Partha Kar and Kon Asimacopoulos, Kirkland & Ellis International LLP's 'knowledgeable and well-connected' restructuring team provides 'thoughtful and smart advice' to a range of stakeholders on mandates throughout the capital structure, including those involving New York law governed high yield debt. The firm's 'truly unique relationships with the fund and financial adviser communities' ensure that the team has had a key seat at the table on many of the most significant recent European restructurings in the market, including an increasing number of debtor mandates. The 'brilliant' Sean Lacey is particularly well-versed in handling special situations and distressed investment mandates, while Elaine Nolan 'has very strong experience in designing, implementing and adapting complex Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs)', and has utilised the tool to good effect in a spate of high-profile retail restructurings. James Watson's broad exposure to an eclectic mix of stakeholders, including debtors, banks, alternative capital providers, financial sponsors, and insolvency practitioners (IPs), ensures that he is well-positioned to advise across a range of restructurings and formal insolvency situations.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
Probably the best restructuring team in Europe. The number of transactions they have advised on is astounding, and the relationships with the fund and financial advisor communities is truly unique.
The firm has very strong experience and are stand out practitioners in designing, implementing and adapting complex Company Voluntary Arrangements.
They are knowledgeable, experienced and well-connected, thoughtful and smart, and (very importantly) appropriately aggressive when the situation requires it.
Kon Asimacopoulos, Partha Kar and Sean Lacey are truly formidable, because they are so consistently successful. They are helpful and experienced, and will be at the top of the list of lawyers to call when a restructuring situation arises.
Elaine Nolan has been extremely helpful in considering various options and advising on both the technical and commercial aspects of each.
Key clients
Ad hoc committee of first lien lenders to Getronics
Ad hoc committee of Lebara bondholders
Ad hoc committee of the €2.6bn convertible bonds issued by Steinhoff Finance Holding
Agrokor / Fortenova
A.S.Adventure’s UK subsidiary, Outdoor and Cycle Concepts
Centerbridge and KKR, and subsequently Hospital Topco Limited (re General Healthcare Group)
Davidson Kempner (re Four Seasons Healthcare)
Debenhams investors / Celine Newco
Dia Group (Distribuidora Internacional de Alimentacion)
Edcon
Forever 21
Galapagos Group
Lenders to Bartec (including EQT)
Lenders to Bulsatcom (including Blantyre Capital and Bulgarian Development Bank)
Lenders to Survitec Group
LetterOne (as shareholder of Dia Group)
Mamas & Papas
Mothercare
Paperchase
PizzaExpress
Various stakeholders and potential purchasers (re Thomas Cook)
High yield Tier 1
'The firm really dominates in its space and is the gold standard on the sponsor side’, says a client of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. The firm is frequently involved in complex, high-value and market-leading deals for private equity houses and financial sponsors, and it has the largest team in London advising only the issuer side. Its work consists solely of US high-yield bonds and high-yield liability management transactions. The senior high-yield team grew significantly in 2019 and early 2020 though hires and promotions. William Burke leads the practice and has more than 17 years' experience on the private equity and financial sponsor side. Experienced partner Cedric Van den Borren frequently handles deals in the French market, among them the largest acquisition in France that consisted of Banijay's takeover of Endemol Shine, while Matthew Merkle is a key adviser to Advent, Bain Capital, Blackstone and KKR. Up-and-coming partner Tim Volkheimer is also recommended. Newly promoted partners Antoine Lebienvenu and Morgan Hill are heavily involved in high-yield bonds and Term Loan B transactions. The firm also hired Deirdre Jones from Latham & Watkins as a partner.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The firm really dominates in its space and is the gold standard on the sponsor side.’
‘The team is highly responsive, very knowledgable, always friendly and a pleasure to work with.’
Key clients
Advent
Bain Capital Private Equity
BC Partners
Blackstone
Centerbridge
GoldenTree Asset Management
Lone Star Funds
KKR
Partners Group
Strategic Value Partners
TDR Capital
Triton
Corporate tax Tier 2
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP's practice is very much in growth mode, with the firm having recruited David Irvine and Mavnick Nerwal from Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP and Linklaters LLP respectively in 2019; the arrivals of both practitioners strengthened the private equity and funds-based tax practice. The group is regularly instructed in transatlantic deals, and it is also developing a strong domestic tax practice. The group is led by seasoned tax lawyer Jonathan Kandel, who regularly advises asset managers, sovereign funds and state-owned enterprises on their transactions in the UK. Timothy Lowe, who co-heads the team with Kandel, is a specialist in M&A tax, reorganisations, reconstructions and corporate finance. Frixos Hatjantonas takes the lead in real estate private equity tax work. Dulcie Daly is another name to note, with experience of international tax planning, debt finance and capital markets transactions.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
EQT
Blackstone
GLP
TPG Real Estate Partners
Vista Equity Partners
Bain Capital
TDR Capital
Oaktree
Galapagos
GIC
Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious) Tier 2
‘Force to be reckoned with’ Nicola Dagg leads the rapidly expanding patent litigation practice at Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. Dagg, Daniel Lim and Katie Coltart have represented high-profile companies in the life sciences sector on market-defining patent trials before all levels of the UK courts, as well as handling parallel infringement proceedings concerning cutting-edge biotechnology innovations, and damages cases on behalf of global pharmaceuticals companies against generics companies. In the TMT space, Lim and Steven Baldwin are leading on major SEP and FRAND litigation proceedings for global telecoms corporations. Patent licensing disputes – including for the determination of royalty rates in the smartphones space – are also underway. 'Powerhouse' partner Jin Ooi is another noteworthy name. The team also offers non-contentious commercial IP and collaboration advice.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The Kirkland team is truly amazing with an incredibly high quality, both in tech and in life sciences. They excel on every front. Very quick, very responsive and with a thorough analysis. Laser-focused on strategy from the outset, with a clear plan for how to achieve the best result and then works extremely hard to make sure it happens.‘
‘Jin Ooi’s knowledge of second medical use issues is market leading.‘
‘Nicola Dagg is an excellent strategist and very valuable in advising on overarching strategic considerations in complex global patent disputes.‘
‘They push the envelope on strategic advice and thinking.‘
‘Nicola Dagg and Katie Coltart are fantastic. They are unique due to their clever strategy, their high reactivity and their winning spirit. And they are enthusiastic, which makes working with them a great pleasure.‘
‘Nicola Dagg is a force to be reckoned with and is great at getting the right people involved whether it’s mobilising client staff, barristers or experts’
Jin Ooi is a powerhouse and is always available and highly responsive. He is a master of detail and able to clearly explain complex issues.’
‘Nicola Dagg, Daniel Lim and Stephen Baldwin are the types of attorneys that any in-house attorney would love working with. They give good, practical advice but have a keen sense of not wasting time. I completely trust them and the team.‘
Key clients
British American Tobacco
Arsenal Capital Partners
Bain Capital and Cinven Partners
Meril Life Sciences
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
TCL Corporation
Xiaomi
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Advent
Lenovo
Novartis
Pfizer
Private funds (including infrastructure funds) Tier 2
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP works across private equity, debt and credit, and infrastructure fundraisings, as well as advising on fund strategy and regulatory compliance, and GP-led transactional advice. The team has been growing its upper mid-market private equity client-base, securing new mandates from BC Partners and LaSalle in the past year, alongside roles for major investment managers in the credit, infrastructure, and real assets sectors. Practice head Richard Watkins is highly regarded, while Christopher Braunack and Anand Damodaran also have notable practices in private equity fundraising. Andy Shore is also active in the buyout space, joining the firm from Proskauer Rose LLP in 2019, while Theodore Cardos ,takes the lead on secondaries and liquidity solutions. Amala Ejikeme advises on innovative fund formations and structuring matters for European and global clients. Senior associate Sophie Smith has won praise for her role in major fundraisings for prominent funds.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
Strong market knowledge; deep team and plenty of resource; good knowledge of investor base
Very responsive; personable and extremely hard-working; transparent and work well as a team.
To the point and solution driven. Very competent team always delivering high quality advice in a time efficient manner
Dedicated, responsive, commercial and very pleasant to work with. All very high calibre professionals but to mention two in particular – I have had the pleasure to work closely with Amala Ejikeme (Partner) and Fraser Burlingham (Associate).
Commercial, pragmatic, knowledgeable and always available
Richard Watkins always has an opinion and is very responsive. He is commercial and pragmatic – a trusted adviser who provides clear and thoughtful guidance. He leads by example.
The Kirkland funds team are top-quality. They know the market extremely well and guide through complex matters in a commercial and practical way.
Amala Ejikeme balances extensive technical knowledge with commercial pragmatism.
Ted Cardos knows the secondary market inside-out and guides through complex transactions in a calm and measured way.
Key clients
AMP Capital Investors Limited
LaSalle Investment Management
BC Partners
CVC Credit Partners
EQT AB
FSN Capital
IK Investment Partners
Livingbridge Enterprise LLP
Nordic Capital
Resolution
TDR Capital
Triton Partners
Vitruvian Partners LLP
Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates) Tier 2
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP's 'very strong' London offering has expertise in company investigations and negotiations with government authorities, alongside corporate crime advice in relation to anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, financial sanctions, data breaches and fraud. The practice often handles cases brought by regulatory authorities including the National Crime Agency (NCA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Information Commissioners’ Office (ICO), Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), SFO and HMRC. Given the firm’s strength in the private equity sector, it often acts for large private equity firms and their portfolio companies, and also handles cases for large international corporates and institutions. Satnam Tumani, who has 'very sound tactical sense', heads the team and is noted for his experience in sensitive compliance, regulatory, bribery and corruption investigations. 'Clever and thoughtful' Marcus Thompson, who also heads the team, handles complex, cross-border investigations.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Large firm with a very strong corporate crime arm’.
‘Satnam Tumani is incredibly diligent and has a practical approach to issues’.
‘They have a wealth of technical and corporate experience to provide reliable and imaginative assurance to corporates’.
‘Marcus Thompson is the most technically knowledgeable and commercially sensitive partner in London’.
‘Satnam Tumani and Andrew Butel are very strategic, responsive, pragmatic and easy to work with’.
‘They are very client-centric, provide clear advice and are excellent at managing all of the moving parts of a complex multi-jurisdictional matter’.
‘The team is extremely knowledgeable, very commercially orientated and has great experience in this field’.
‘Marcus Thompson is very experienced, very commercial and gives practical advice which is very important in this field’.
EU and competition Tier 3
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP has cemented a market-leading position in the merger control space, where clients laud its ‘expert advice, professionalism and real commercial application’. Of particular note, the group’s recent work in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors stands out - it acted for Bristol-Myers Squibb on its $74bn acquisition of Celgene – one of the largest merger transactions in the industry to date. The competition team, which is headed by the 'knowledgeable, patient and cool under pressure' Paula Riedel, benefits from the firm’s established reputation in the private equity space. Sarah Jordan, Sally Evans and recently promoted partner Annie Herdman are also noted.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team has a very good understanding of the antitrust implications that need to be considered for any potential or completed transaction. Thorough diligence is completed to ensure that we have a clear view on the potential outcomes, should we proceed with a transaction.‘
‘Expert advice, professionalism and real commercial application. The lawyers understand the client’s business and requirements quickly and simplify a hugely complex workstream – this ensures that the client always feels in control.‘
‘The team is knowledgeable and hardworking and is incredibly responsive, even when working with US clients during US business hours. Strong capabilities in coordinating filings across multiple global jurisdictions.‘
‘Never presented problems, only solutions. Team members are approachable and leveraged good professional relationships with the regulators.‘
‘Paula Riedel is knowledgeable, patient and cool under pressure. Paula has experience with high-value matters raising antitrust concerns.‘
‘Sarah Jordan is always on hand to answer questions and provide guidance on potential antitrust issues.‘
Key clients
Travelport Worldwide
Olympus Partners / Liqui-Box
EQT Partners
Triton Partners
Infineon Technologies
GlaxoSmithKline
TDR Capital LLP / Stonegate Pub Company
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Avaya Holdings Corp.
Cerberus Capital Management
Vista Equity Partners
Huntsman Corp.
Spectrum Brands
Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory Tier 3
The ‘excellent’ Kirkland & Ellis International LLP provides ‘detailed, understandable explanations and total professionalism’, as well as experience with the UK, US and European markets and regulators. The firm advises on a range of transactions, fund registration and management issues, with particular expertise assisting investment funds in the regulatory field. The ‘smart, practical and commercial’ Lisa Cawley leads the practice and specialises in M&A and compliance matters. Also notable are Prem Mohan, who is experienced in financial services regulation and counselling private investment funds; Adam Skinner, who focuses on regulatory compliance and risk-management advice; and Deirdre Haugh, who advises on UK and EU financial regulation and fund matters.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The Kirkland financial services team manage to provide practical guidance on extremely technical matters, with a focus on what really matters’
‘No matter who you work with in the compliance department – whether it be a partner or an associate – I know I can rely on the advice given’
‘Lisa Cawley delivers very clear advice and gives you confidence on issues involving difficult judgement calls’
‘Prem Mohan is very responsive and provides a commercial overlay on the technical issues’
‘Callum Wright is fantastic to work with and balances technical knowledge with commercial pragmatism’
‘Adam Skinner provides timely and clear advice.’
‘Lisa Cawley is an excellent lawyer in the financial services regulatory space. She is technical but commercial. ‘
‘They acknowledge your inquiry straight away and either answer it immediately or let you know in a reasonable time frame when to expect a response. This communication is second to none’
Key clients
Warburg Pincus
Blackstone
Apax
FNZ
GTCR
H.I.G Capital
Lion Capital
Starwood Capital
Nordic Capital
Vitruvian Partners
International arbitration Tier 3
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP's 'exceptionally strong' London international arbitration team acts in complex, cross-border commercial arbitrations across the globe, including numerous, groundbreaking investor-state arbitrations. Its sector expertise includes the finance, telecoms, energy, construction equipment, agribusiness, retail and leisure industries, among others. Group head Christopher Colbridge and Rajinder Bassi handle both commercial and investor-state cases; and Richard Boynton is known for his work on behalf of international banks, multinationals and private equity funds. The strong team also includes Jonathan Newman and Philipp Kurek. Former partner Chiraag Shah left for Morrison & Foerster LLP.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Sophisticated and motivated legal team. Providing first rate client service.’
‘Rajinder Bassi – great litigator with excellent legal acumen. Phillip Kurek – thoughtful strategist.’
‘Experienced and effective lawyers. Good commercial judgement. Good at managing extended teams for larger cases, involving counsel teams and other lawyers and professionals.’
‘Rajinder Bassi: retains excellent judgement and poise under the pressures of litigation. Good at taking charge of the litigation and keeping in control of all its aspects. Chris Colbridge: very experienced and senior litigator. Excellent commercial judgement and recognition of the realities and likely outcomes.’
‘Philipp Kurek has proved excellent in terms of the day to day running of the case, drafting, and showing a very good sense of when counsel does or does not need to become involved. The partner involved, Chris Colbridge, has been present when needed, showing a very good sense of judgement and litigation tactics, and being very easy to work with.’
‘Rajinder Bassi is a standout name in international arbitration : a first-class intellect, oodles of experience, natural charm with clients and opponents and tough as nails when the occasion demands.’
Key clients
Agility Group
Ping An Insurance Company of China, Limited
Life sciences and healthcare Tier 3
At Kirkland & Ellis International LLP, Nicola Dagg is the well-known head of the IP litigation team, while Emma Flett leads on technology and IP transactions. The group handles critical, high-stakes patent litigation for US and European big pharma and biotech companies. Flett’s expertise covers IP and technology transactions involving product acquisitions, licensing, R&D and supply and distribution agreements. She advises corporates and private equity houses. Litigator Jin Ooi has a pharmacology background and handles cross-border IP-related cases for a wide range of pharma clients. Katie Coltart is another key team member.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Kirkland’s IP team fully deserves the recognition in the industry as a leading, cross-border transactional and litigation experts. The team is not only at the cutting edge of legal practice but also is deeply knowledgeable about the industry of their clients. This combination of industry knowledge and legal expertise was impressive as well as their fluidity and efficiency with which the team was able to manage and handle complex, multi-jurisdictional matters. Their rates are high, but this is expected when retaining such a robust and sophisticated team.’
‘Kirkland and Ellis is nowadays certainly in the first league when it comes to litigation issues and infringement questions, last but not least also in the life science field. The extremely open-minded, effective and co-operative team has a great reputation as being collegial coordinators of international litigations and disputes and the team is characterized by its sharp and focused partners and associates.’
‘This is a young and relatively small but high-powered team, recently founded but led by one of the profession’s best known senior solicitors, Nicola Dagg (formerly at Allen & Overy). Some of the team came with Nicola from A&O and others have been added since. As a new entrant to the market, this team has a hunger and drive to succeed that may be useful to clients, and as a part of a US-led operation as opposed to a UK-led one like most of its peers, it offers a different “flavour” but the same quality.’
‘The Kirkland patent litigation team are very strong at all levels, from the junior associates through to the most senior partner, Nicola Dagg. The firm’s global presence, especially in the US, is an advantage in major patent litigation.’
‘Katie Coltart is also very good – She is very good at handling complex matters and is good at dealing with clients – she sets expectations and meet them. She shows an ability to think strategically about all aspects of the case.’
‘Jin Ooi is very knowledgeable and very good at simplifying complicated issues.’
‘Nicola Dagg is an exceptional litigator. She has a unique understanding of cross-jurisdiction strategies and business aspects of patent litigation cases. She has an exceptional legal mind and has in-depth comprehension of the technical fields.’
‘Katie Coltart, when handling a patent case, will leave no stone unturned to bring a claim to its full potential. They are really a winning team.’
‘Jin Ooi has an impressive knowledge of the case law, especially second medical use cases. He is very perceptive and appreciative of in-put and takes input in order to lead a team effort.’
Key clients
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Meril Life Sciences
British American Tobacco
Arsenal Capital Partners
Bain Capital and Cinven Partners
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Pfizer
Novartis
Property finance Tier 3
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP continues to grow its reputation in the London market, most recently having advised on the largest UK deal of 2019 for Hospital Topco, the holding company of BMI Healthcare, which sold 30 private hospitals to Medical Properties Trust for £1.5bn. Practice head Jonathan Birks is an expert in advising private equity houses and credit funds on major real estate financings. Kazik Michalski has a similar focus on representing private equity companies, counting Blackstone as a key client.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Able to deal with the most complex situation and to break it down simply to enable clients to take good decisions.’
‘Very good judgement and thoughtful advice. Excellent from a technical perspective. Always willing to go the extra mile to deliver. Very enjoyable to work with and able to work seamlessly with other practices at the firm, including corporate and restructuring.’
‘Jonathan Birks stands out as able to handle the most complex deal and to see through complexity to give very well-thought-through advice. He is definitely an exceptional strategic thinker. He also has great commercial judgement, which is helpful in achieving the desired goal. He is also able to build strong relationships with counterparties on deals and to be influential to drive outcomes.’
‘A very good team in property finance – the best we have worked with. Jonny Birks is an excellent lawyer with extremely impressive capabilities in providing real estate finance services. He was extremely knowledgeable and constructive throughout the process.’
‘Excellent execution capabilities. Jonathan Birks is an extremely bright, creative and collaborative lawyer.’
‘Kirkland & Ellis has a great real estate finance team. In particular, the partners are very impressive as they tend to take full ownership of the projects they work on. In addition, not only do they help out with the task at hand, they also genuinely try to think ahead and try to add value beyond the initial instruction.’
‘Jonathan Birks stands out in my opinion. He is extremely responsive and committed to the projects he works on. He will always ensure there is sufficient follow up, and he really works with the the investor to think how to prevent future issues and add value.’
‘This practice is differentiated by the breadth and depth of the experience of the team, particularly Jonathan Birks and Kazik Michalski. They work with many of the leading sponsors and lenders in the market, so they know the terms that leading borrowers should be getting.’
‘They have great commercial judgement and know how to get deals done. Jonathan Birks and Kazik Michalski are both fantastic. Extremely responsive, technically sound, and very commercial. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone.’
Real estate funds Tier 3
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP‘s reputation as one of the key names in the private funds sphere makes it a notable contact for many clients on complex real estate funds transactions. The firm has won new mandates from clients including La Salle Investment Management, Principal, EQT and KKR. Benjamin Harding, who was hired from Clifford Chance LLP in 2019, is knowledgeable about a wide range of fund structures, including closed-ended and open-ended funds, club and pledge funds, separate managed accounts and joint ventures. Jonathan Tadd leads the real estate funds practice in Europe.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
LaSalle Investment Management
Principal Real Estate Europe
EQT AB
Realterm
GLP
KKR
Commercial litigation: premium Tier 4
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP's 'experienced and effective' dispute resolution practice offers 'good commercial judgement' and 'advice in the most complex cases'. The US powerhouse attracts praise for 'managing extended teams for larger cases' including non-contentious lawyers from its private equity and restructuring teams. The 'very experienced' practice head Christopher Colbridge is best known for international arbitration and global white-collar crime investigations, while Rajinder Bassi is described by clients as 'a standout name in commercial litigation' and 'a fearsome opponent' in international disputes, including in the telecoms, energy, pharmaceutical and financial services sectors. Richard Boynton has particular experience acting for international banks and private equity funds in a range of disputes. Chiraag Shah joined Morrison & Foerster LLP.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Experienced and effective lawyers. Good commercial judgement. Good at managing extended teams for larger cases, involving counsel teams and other lawyers and professionals.‘
‘Top firm providing advice in the most complex cases.‘
‘Rajinder Bassi is a standout name in commercial litigation: a first-class intellect, oodles of experience, natural charm with clients and opponents and tough as nails when the occasion demands. He is first-rate: very bright, commercially extremely savvy, great with clients, and a fearsome opponent.‘
‘Richard Boynton is one of the best commercial litigation solicitors I’ve come across. He was the single best associate I’ve ever seen (when at Clifford Chance); and he’s grown into a top-class litigation partner. He knows how to run a massive case better than almost anyone else in the market; he’s tremendously clever; he’s stunningly hard-working and he’s a total joy to work with. Pound-for-pound he’s as good a commercial litigation solicitor as you could find.‘
‘Chris Colbridge: very experienced and senior litigator. Excellent commercial judgement and recognition of the realities and likely outcomes.‘
‘Noah Stewart-Ornstein is a ‘stand out’ associate destined for partnership.‘
Key clients
Noble Group Limited
Galapagos Bidco SARL
LivePerson
The Boeing Company
H.I.G. Capital Partners LLP
Gates Worldwide
Agility Public Warehousing Company K.S.C.
Imtech Nordic Group
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP > Firm Profile
The firm: Kirkland & Ellis is an international law firm with more than 2,700 attorneys representing clients in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions, litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, restructuring, and intellectual property matters. The firm operates from 15 offices around the world. The London office has over 350 lawyers.
Principal areas of work: Kirkland is a full-service law firm focusing in the following practice areas:
Antitrust and competition: Kirkland’s global antitrust and competition team advises across the full spectrum of antitrust requirements, from wide-scale multi-jurisdictional cartel investigations and litigation, to specific antitrust queries such as distribution and resale structures, pricing and behavioural conduct, competitor cooperation agreements and State aid. Our merger control practice advises on complex and novel cases involving fix-it-first solutions and carve out divestment packages, managing the process
smoothly and anticipating issues.
Capital markets: Kirkland’s capital markets group has one of the largest high yield practices in Europe. Our London-based team primarily focuses on cross-border offerings of high-yield bonds and liability management and restructuring transactions involving high yield bonds, closely coordinating with our U.S. offices to bring new issuer-favourable terms into the European market as they emerge.
Debt finance: Kirkland has the largest sponsor-focused debt finance practice in Europe, advising on TLB, second lien, PIK, bank/bond and unitranche structures across large cap and middle market deals. The team has been at the forefront of some of the most innovative financing structures and acts regularly on the most complex global and pan-European transactions. This has included advising on the largest sponsor-backed financings for public to private transactions across Europe.
Intellectual property litigation: Kirkland’s London IP team represents high-end clients on complex litigation, transactions and counselling matters.
International litigation and arbitration: Kirkland is renowned for its experience in complex litigation and arbitration and has a proven track record of generating successful results for clients in their most highstakes cases. Kirkland is recognised for its experience in all aspects of international arbitration and in the conduct of white-collar crime and government investigations.
Investment funds: Kirkland provides sophisticated advice to investment fund sponsors, institutional investors and other market participants in the alternative investment fund space. The team addresses the legal, regulatory, tax and commercial challenges facing a diverse group of investment fund clients, ranging from some of the world’s largest alternative-asset managers and financial institutions to independent boutiques and first-time fund sponsors.
Private equity/mergers and acquisitions: Kirkland has the largest dedicated private equity and financial investor practice in Europe, acting for US and European private equity funds, pension and sovereign wealth funds and financial investors with real estate funds. The team advises across all transactions types including public transactions, carve outs, minority and majority deals, bolt-ons and exits, across any sector. Working in conjunction with the deepest bench of private equity and financial investor-focused practitioners, Kirkland provides clients with unbeatable expertise in highly complex transactions and cross-border deals.
Regulatory: Kirkland has developed a market-leading regulatory practice, advising sponsor firms amongst other organisations on a wide variety of regulatory matters.
Restructuring/insolvency: Kirkland’s restructuring group has earned a distinguished international reputation by achieving outstanding results for a wide range of global clients. Its lawyers have advised on some of the most challenging, multijurisdictional restructurings in recent history and have a broad range of business advisory and crisis-management skills to navigate clients through situations involving financially troubled companies.
Tax: Kirkland’s tax practice advises on the strategy and implementation of high-profile, cross-border transactions for private equity houses, financial investors and asset managers and their portfolio companies involved in acquisitions, refinancings and divestiture. The practice also focuses investment fund formation, structuring and restructurings and other complex fund related issues.
Technology and intellectual property transactions: Kirkland concentrates on international business transactions that are driven by the acquisition, use or divestiture of rights in IP and technology.
Other offices: Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Washington DC
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Private equity | Matthew Elliott | ||
Private equity | David Higgins | ||
Capital markets | William Burke | ||
Capital markets | Cedric Van den Borren | ||
Capital markets | Matthew Merkle | ||
Investment funds | Richard Watkins | ||
Investment funds | Christopher Braunack | ||
Investment funds | Anand Damodaran | ||
Debt finance | Stephen Lucas | ||
Debt finance | Neel Sachdev | ||
Tax | Jonathan Kandel | ||
Tax | Timothy Lowe | ||
Insolvency/restructuring | Kon Asimacopoulos | ||
Insolvency/restructuring | Partha Kar | ||
Insolvency/restructuring | Sean Lacey | ||
Insolvency/restructuring | Elaine Nolan | ||
International arbitration/litigation | Christopher Colbridge | ||
International arbitration/litigation | Rajinder Bassi | ||
Government, Regulatory and Internal Investigations | Satnam Tumani | ||
Government, Regulatory and Internal Investigations | Marcus Thompson | ||
Antitrust/competition | Paula Riedel | ||
Antitrust/competition | Sarah Jordan | ||
Intellectual property litigation | Nicola Dagg | ||
Technology & Intellectual property transactions | Emma Flett | ||
Financial services regulatory | Lisa Cawley |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Kon Asimacopoulos | Kon Asimacopoulos is a restructuring partner in the London office of the… | View Profile |
![]() |
Steven Baldwin | Steven Baldwin is a partner in Kirkland’s IP Litigation team in London… | View Profile |
![]() |
Rajinder Bassi | Rajinder Bassi is a partner in the international litigation and arbitration group… | View Profile |
![]() |
Jonathan Birks | Jonathan Birks is a partner in the debt finance practice at Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
James Board | James Board is is an investment funds partner in the London office… | View Profile |
![]() |
Stuart Boyd | Stuart Boyd is a corporate partner advising private equity houses and financial… | View Profile |
![]() |
Richard Boynton | Richard Boynton is a partner in the Firm’s international litigation and arbitration… | View Profile |
![]() |
Christopher Braunack | Christopher Braunack is an investment funds partner in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
William Burke | William Burke is a capital markets partner in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Andrew Butel | View Profile | |
![]() |
Theodore Cardos | Theodore Cardos is an investment funds partner in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Michael Casey | Mike’s practice focuses on representing clients in investigations, transactions, and regulatory matters… | View Profile |
![]() |
Lisa Cawley | Lisa Cawley is a regulatory partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Christopher Colbridge | Christopher Colbridge is a partner in and heads the Firm’s international litigation… | View Profile |
![]() |
Katie Coltart | Katie Coltart is a partner in Kirkland’s London IP Litigation team. Katie… | View Profile |
![]() |
Romin Dabir | Romin Dabir is a regulatory partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Ms Nicola Dagg | Nicola Dagg is a partner in the IP litigation team in the… | View Profile |
![]() |
Dulcie Daly | Dulcie Daly is a tax partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Anand Damodaran | Anand Damodaran is an investment funds partner in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Aprajita Dhundia | Aprajita Dhundia is a corporate partner in Kirkland’s London office. Aprajita advises… | View Profile |
![]() |
Amala Ejikeme | Amala Ejikeme is an investment funds partner in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Matthew Elliott | Matthew Elliott is a corporate partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Sally Evans | Sally Evans is an Antitrust and Competition partner in the London office… | View Profile |
![]() |
Celyn Evans | Celyn Evans is a corporate partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Ian Ferreria | Ian Ferreira is a tax partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Emma Flett | Emma L. Flett co-leads Kirkland’s Technology & IP Transactions Practice and heads… | View Profile |
![]() |
Mark Gardner | Mark Gardner is a partner in the Antitrust and Competition Team based… | View Profile |
![]() |
Frixos Hatjantonas | Frixos Hatjantonas is a corporate tax partner at the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Annie Herdman | Annie Herdman is a partner in the Antitrust and Competition Team based… | View Profile |
![]() |
David Higgins | David Higgins is a corprate partner and a member of the global… | View Profile |
![]() |
David Holdsworth | David Holdsworth is a corporate partner in our London office. His practice… | View Profile |
![]() |
Roger Johnson | Roger Johnson is a corporate partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Sarah Jordan | Sarah Jordan is an Antitrust & Competition partner in the London office… | View Profile |
![]() |
Jonathan Kandel | Jonathan Kandel is a tax partner based in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Partha Kar | Partha Kar is a restructuring partner in the London office of the… | View Profile |
![]() |
Sarah Klein | Sarah Klein is a partner in the Government, Regulatory & Internal Investigations… | View Profile |
![]() |
Philipp Kurek | Philipp Kurek is an arbitration partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Sean Lacey | Sean Lacey is a restructuring partner in the London office of the… | View Profile |
![]() |
James Learner | James Learner is a corporate partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Jeremy Leggate | Jeremy Leggate is an investment funds partner in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Daniel Lim | Daniel is a partner in Kirkland’s IP litigation team in London. Daniel’s… | View Profile |
![]() |
Timothy Lowe | Timothy is a corporate tax partner in the London office. He specialises… | View Profile |
![]() |
Stephen Lucas | Stephen is a finance partner in the London office of Kirkland &… | View Profile |
![]() |
Adrian Maguire | Adrian Maguire is a corporate partner advising financial sponsor clients globally on… | View Profile |
![]() |
Matthew Merkle | Matthew Merkle is a capital markets partner in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Prem Mohan | Prem Mohan is a regulatory partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Rory Mullarkey | Rory Mullarkey is a corporate partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Mavnick Nerwal | Mavnick is a corporate tax partner in the London office. He specialises… | View Profile |
![]() |
Jonathan Newman | Jon Newman is a white collar, litigation and arbitration partner in the… | View Profile |
![]() |
Kirsteen Nicol | Kirsteen Nicol is a banking partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Elaine Nolan | Elaine is a restructuring partner in the London office of Kirkland &… | View Profile |
![]() |
Samuel Norris | Samuel Norris is a finance partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Jin Ooi | Jin Ooi is a partner in Kirkland’s London IP Litigation team. He… | View Profile |
![]() |
Paula Riedel | Paula Riedel is an Antitrust & Competition partner in the London office… | View Profile |
![]() |
Neel Sachdev | Neel Sachdev is a finance partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Christopher Shield | Christopher Shield is a finance partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Andrew Shore | Andy Shore is an investment funds partner in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Adam Skinner | Adam Skinner is a regulatory partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Michael Steele | Michael Steele is a partner in Kirkland’s London office. His practice focuses… | View Profile |
![]() |
Jonathan Tadd | Jonathan Tadd is an investment funds partner in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Marcus Thompson | Marcus Thompson is a partner in the Government & Internal Investigations Group… | View Profile |
![]() |
Sarah Thompson | Sarah Thompson is a regulatory partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Mark Thompson | Mark Thompson is a corporate partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Satnam Tumani | Satnam Tumani is a partner in the London office of Kirkland &… | View Profile |
![]() |
Cedric Van Den Borren | Cedric Van den Borren is a capital markets partner in the London… | View Profile |
![]() |
Tim Volkheimer | Tim Volkheimer is a capital markets partner in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Alan Walker | Alan Walker is a tax partner based in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
Richard Watkins | Richard Watkins is an investment funds partner in the London office of… | View Profile |
![]() |
James Watson | James Watson is a restructuring partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
![]() |
Jennifer Wilson | Jenny Wilson is a partner in Kirkland’s London Technology & IP Transactions… | View Profile |
![]() |
Andrej Wolf | Andrej Wolf is a corporate partner in the London office of Kirkland… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 126 Number of other UK fee-earners : 239Diversity
Pro bono:
Kirkland is committed to providing legal services without charge to those who cannot afford counsel, with the goals of improving lives, bettering communities and deepening our attorneys’ professional experience. Kirkland attorneys at all levels pursue pro bono matters dealing with a variety of issues such as immigration, disability rights, civil rights, prisoner rights, death penalty cases and criminal appeals, guardianship, veterans’ benefits, and the representation of nonprofit organizations, among other areas.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Kirkland’s commitment to diversity is reflected in its policies, programs and committees as well as its efforts to build and maintain a culture that values and gathers strength from differences in socioeconomic, racial, ethnic and personal backgrounds.
CSR:
Kirkland is committed to being a leader in corporate social responsibility, and improving communities and the legal profession through monetary gifts through the Kirkland & Ellis Foundation; embracing and promoting diversity within the Firm and the legal profession; reducing the Firm’s environmental impact; and providing legal services without charge to those who cannot afford counsel.
Student (The Lex 100 )
The Lex 100 Verdict
Powerful American private equity market leader, Kirkland & Ellis International has a superb training record and continues to make a name for itself in the UK market. A trainee highlights that 'Kirkland is at the forefront of the London legal market in all aspects of its practice. I wanted to train at the best and felt there was nowhere better to do so.' It is a Lex 100 Winner in the following categories: overall job satisfaction, quality of work, vacation scheme, confidence in being retained after completion of training contract, and approachability of partners and supervisors. Known for its private equity excellence, trainees comment on the working hours being long, with 'multiple 100-plus hour weeks' recorded and the pressure high. One trainee adds that 'the level of responsibility and expectation on you is much higher at Kirkland. While there is less formal training compared to the Magic Circle firms, you learn through the depth of exposure that is given on deals'. Trainees love the 'amazing perks' such as '24/7 concierge service, runners bringing your Deliveroo up to your desk, free breakfast every day and a healthy number of blow-out socials'. One trainee adds that she 'loved the energy that the people in the firm possessed. There was a deep sense of pride about the work that they did. Everyone was friendly, driven and ambitious'. With a market-leading reputation and 'incredible exposure as a trainee to deals at the forefront of the UK, European and global markets,' Kirkland offers excellent opportunities.Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Acquisition finance
- Corporate restructuring & insolvency
- High yield
- Private equity: transactions – high-value deals (£250m+)
Firm Rankings
- Corporate tax
- Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)
- Private funds (including infrastructure funds)
- Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- EU and competition
- Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory
- International arbitration
- Life sciences and healthcare
- Property finance
- Real estate funds
- Commercial litigation: premium