Kirkland & Ellis LLP > Paris, France > Firm Profile

Kirkland & Ellis LLP Offices

Kirkland & Ellis LLP
121 AVENUE DE MALAKOFF
75016 PARIS
75016
France
Visit website 33 1 88 24 57 00

Kirkland & Ellis LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

France > Private equity: LBO Tier 1

At Kirkland & Ellis LLP, the team distinguishes itself in some of the largest and most complex LBO transactions in the French market. Benefiting from its close relationships with leading US and European private equity houses and sponsors, the group advises on public and private transactions, buy-side mandates, exits and IPOs. The practice is co-led by Vincent Ponsonnaille and Laurent-Victor Michel, who is highly regarded for his ‘great knowledge of the French PE market and excellent client-focused approach’.

Practice head(s):

Vincent Ponsonnaille; Laurent Victor-Michel

Testimonials

‘A globally coordinated team able to cater to the needs of demanding PE clients regardless of where the fund, target or portfolio M&A candidate is. This is particularly relevant in France where foreign investors need a trusted and locally connected guide to ensure French market practice can be translated and bridge the cultural and business practice gaps that inevitably emerge.’

‘Laurent Victor-Michel was exceptional in helping us, a US investor, navigate a very tricky three-party negotiation that needed to marry PE global best practices with French cultural and legal precedents. He is able to bridge these worlds and proved to be an excellent, creative partner in the negotiation, quickly gaining our trust and taking ownership of delivering a strong outcome. He’s now our go-to-partner for any investment in France.’

‘Very entrepreneurial and hardworking team that goes above and beyond to understand its clients’ goals and moves heaven and earth to help reach them.’

‘They worked 24/7 for us on a unique and difficult deal delivering a great result.’

‘Laurent Victor-Michel has great knowledge of the French PE market and an excellent client-focused approach when giving advice that is practical and devoid of jargon or irrelevant information.’

Key clients

Advent International

Antin Infrastructure Partners

Apollo Global Management

Ares Management Corporation

Cinven

Continental Grain Company

CPP Investments

EQT

Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking

Providence Equity Partners

Renaissance

Searchlight Capital

SK Capital Partners

Thoma Bravo

Trinseo

Vista Equity Partners

Vitruvian Partners

Warburg Pincus

West Street Capital Partners VII

Work highlights

  • Advised Thoma Bravo on its acquisition of Talend, a French company listed on the NASDAQ, valuing Talend at approximately $2.4bn.
  • Assisted InPost S.A., the Polish parcel locker firm backed by Advent International Corp. and recently listed on Euronext Amsterdam, with its proposed 100% acquisition of the shares of Mondial Relay.
  • Advise Trinseo on the carve-out and acquisition of Arkema’s polymethyl methacrylates and activated methyl methacrylates businesses.

France > Tax Tier 3

Kirkland & Ellis LLP's Nadine Gelli is sought after for her high-profile expertise advising leading private equity houses. Heading a very tightly-knit tax practice, she works alongside the corporate department to structure large domestic and cross-border transactions.

Practice head(s):

Nadine Gelli

Testimonials

‘Nadine Gelli is an exceptional tax lawyer and a very good technician endowed with a very good capacity of explanation and restitution in making very complex things finally very understandable. By far the best legal professional I have ever worked with.’

‘We work with Nadine Gelli. She is very proactive, flexible and up-to-date of the tax environment in Europe.’

‘Small specialised team that makes it responsive and efficient.’

‘Technical competence. Respect of deadlines. Creativity. Anticipation. Follow-up.’

‘The tax practice of this firm is of an exceptional level. The lawyers are pragmatic and provide turnkey solutions.’

‘Very high-level, but very accessible.’

‘We work mostly with Nadine Gelli in the tax department. She has always been very responsive and practical in her advice and is very well versed in French tax law.’

Key clients

Advent International

Antin Infrastructure Partners

Apollo Global Management

Ares Management Corporation (Ares)

Cinven

Continental Grain Company

CPP Investments

EQT

Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking

Providence Equity Partners

Renaissance

Searchlight Capital

SK Capital Partners

Thoma Bravo

Trinseo

Vista Equity Partners

Vitruvian Partners

Warburg Pincus

West Street Capital Partners VII

Work highlights

  • Advised InPost S.A., the Polish parcel locker firm backed by Advent International Corp. and recently listed on Euronext Amsterdam, on its proposed acquisition of 100% of the shares of Mondial Relay.
  • Advised IVC Evidensia, a portfolio company of EQT Private Equity, on the acquisition of a majority stake in Veternity.
  • Advised Trinseo (NYSE: TSE), a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, on the carve-out and acquisition of Arkema’s polymethyl methacrylates (‘PMMA’) and activated methyl methacrylates (‘MMA’) businesses.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP > Firm Profile

Kirkland & Ellis is a global law firm with 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 has 15 offices around the world: Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.

Main Contacts

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Transactional Vincent Ponsonnaille
Transactional Laurent Victor-Michel

Staff Figures

Firmwide Attorneys : 2,721
Paris-Based Attorneys : 6

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.