Kirkland & Ellis LLP > Paris, France > Firm Profile
Kirkland & Ellis LLP Offices
121 AVENUE DE MALAKOFF
75016 PARIS
75016
France
Kirkland & Ellis LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
France > Private equity: LBO Tier 1
Demonstrating ‘a great blend of patience and persistence’, the group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a strong choice for the gamut of deal types, including buy-side deals, exits, and IPOs. Major private equity houses, financial sponsors and sovereign wealth funds look to the group for its cross-border expertise and international footprint. The practice is co-led by Vincent Ponsonnaille, lauded for his ‘proactive and thoughtful advice’. Alongside him, Laurent Victor-Michel acts as co-head and has particular experience in matters relating to foreign direct investment. Corporate specialists Louis Gosset and Emmanuel Enrici are additional names to note.Practice head(s):
Vincent Ponsonnaille; Laurent Victor-Michel
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘For our recent transaction, K&E was able to provide comprehensive services including detailed French/US legal structure, tax, HR, regulatory, and other domains. The team was able to manage a complex process and structure. They were able to manage the process seamlessly.’
‘The team maintained a very balanced view and did not get rattled easily. They had a great blend of patience and persistence and were always available to address questions or issues.’
‘Vincent Ponsonnaille and Emmanuel Enrici – proactive and thoughtful advice.’
‘Excellent legal skills, commitment, and availability, as well as a good understanding of the software segment.’
Key clients
AXA Investment Management
Advent International
Antin Infrastructure Partners
Ares Management Corporation
Cinven
CPP Investments
Five Arrows PE
GIC Private Limited
Groupe Bruxelles Lambert
Hellman & Friedman
PAI Partners
Partners Group
Platinum Private Equity
Providence Equity Partners
Searchlight Capital
Silver Lake
Thoma Bravo
Vista Equity Partners
Warburg Pincus
Wendel
Work highlights
- Advised Groupe Bruxelles Lambert on the agreement to combine Webhelp and Concentrix Corporation.
- Advised Data4 and Axa IM – Real Assets on the sale of Data4 to Brookfield Asset Management.
- Advised co-controlling shareholders WP GG Holdings IV and ARCHIMED on the sale of Polyplus to Sartorius, a life science group.
France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 3
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is proficient at advising leading sponsors and borrowers on complex and large loan financing and acquisition finance deals. Led by Kalish Mullen, the Parisian team often co-leads on deals alongside its London counterparts, advising clients on large LBO finance transactions and on amend and extend deals, high yield and bond financing, sometimes combining Euros and US dollars currencies.Practice head(s):
Kalish Mullen
Testimonials
‘Very high availability. Excellent vision of market practices with a broad field of intervention. Ability to defend tooth and nail the interests of their client.’
‘Kallish Mullen is very available, very friendly and humble, it’s a pleasure to work with him. He is efficient, has good technical skills, an is flexible while defending his client’s interests.’
‘The team is innovative and particularly sophisticated. ’
‘Kalish Mullen stands out for his technical expertise, his ability to calmly manage emergency situations and complicated negotiations. He is constructive and promotes the conclusion of a deal.’
Key clients
Searchlight Capital
BC Partners
D’Ieteren Group
Cinven
Core Equity
Partners Group
Platinum Equity
Banijay
AXA IM Alts
Arctos Partners LP
Provalliance
Emeria
SK Capital
Ipackchem Group
HgCapital
PAI Partners
Advent
Idemia Group
Work highlights
- Advised Core Equity Holdings on the implementation of a new financing for the Provalliance Group in order to refinance its existing senior indebtedness.
- Advised Banijay Group on the amendment and extension of its EUR453 million term loan facility, its USD460 million term loan facility, and the incurrence of additional indebtedness in an amount equivalent to EUR200 million.
- Advised HgCapital, an investor in European and transatlantic software and services businesses, on its majority investment in Nomadia, a European SaaS provider of smart mobility solutions.
France > Tax Tier 3
Kirkland & Ellis LLP's tax practice is well regarded for its 'excellent knowledge of the investment funds market and associated tax issues'. The team also assists private equity funds with setting up investment vehicles, handling acquisitions and disposals, as well as advising debtors and creditors on restructuring situations. Nadine Gelli leads the practice which benefits from her extensive experience handling leveraged buyouts, financing and restructuring projects. Sonia Bouaffassa supports the team and is a key contact for corporate reorganisations and debt finance matters.Practice head(s):
Nadine Gelli
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Serious, reliable, responsive and friendly teams.’
‘Great professionalism, clear answers, responsiveness.’
‘Great availability. Excellent knowledge of the investment fund market and associated tax issues.’
‘Nadine Gelli: technical, pragmatic and constructive, available.’
Key clients
Adare Pharma Solutions
BC Partners
Clearwater Analytics
Core Equity
Equistone Partners Europe
Financière DSBG and its shareholders Kartesia and Farallon
Frazier Healthcare Partners
PAI Partners
Partners Group / Emeria
Platinum Equity
Thomas H. Lee Partners
Warburg Pincus and Archimed
Wendel
Technicolor (renamed Vantiva)
Technicolor Creative Studios
Work highlights
- Advised PAI Partners on a strategic minority investment in its business by Dyal Capital, a division of Blue Owl Capital Inc.
- Advised Platinum Equity on the acquisition of Imerys SA’s High Temperature Solutions business (HTS) for EUR930 million.
- Advised Technicolor on the spin-off and listing of Technicolor Creative Studios (TCS) as well as the refinancing of the overall company’s debt.
France > Private equity: Fund formation
Kirkland & Ellis LLP > Firm Profile
Kirkland & Ellis is a global law firm with 3,500 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 has 20 offices around the world: Austin, Bay Area, Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Munich, New York, Paris, Riyadh, Salt Lake City, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transactional | Vincent Ponsonnaille | ||
| Transactional | Laurent Victor-Michel |
Staff Figures
Firmwide Attorneys : 2,721 Paris-Based Attorneys : 25Diversity
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.
D&I:
Kirkland’s commitment to diversity and inclusion 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.
Diversity
Kirkland & Ellis is one of the world’s leading law firms with more than 3,000 lawyers representing clients in complex corporate transactions, litigation, restructuring and intellectual property matters from 18 offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Kirkland’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion begins with its leaders, who understand that diverse teams produce the best results, hold relationships as a core value and prioritize community and belonging. As such, DEI at Kirkland is a strategic imperative that influences every business function at the Firm.
- Private equity: LBO
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance: transactional work
- Tax