Praised as ‘a perfect match for tackling both local and transnational issues’, the ’dynamic, young’ team at Kirkland & Ellis LLP is well-versed in large cap LBOs, minority and majority investments, carve-outs, exits and IPOs. The group is frequently instructed by US and European private equity houses, financial sponsors and sovereign wealth fund clients. Practice co-heads Vincent Ponsonnaille and Laurent Victor-Michel boast extensive transactional experience; Ponsonnaille is lauded for his availability and ‘excellent advice’. Also noted are Louis Gosset and the ’very proactive and thoughtful’ Emmanuel Enrici, both of whom handle transactions and corporate governance mandates.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
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Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Vincent Ponsonnaille and Louis Gosset are the lawyers we prefer to have at our side rather than across from us on complicated subjects. They do haute couture: tailor-made work, of great quality with a remarkable team at their side. They are always available and offer excellent advice.'
‘The office benefits from K&E's international reach, a very detailed technical knowledge of its files (in line with the firm's excellence at the global level), while having a strong local anchoring allowing it to respond to the specificities of French operations. A perfect match for tackling both local and transnational issues. Dynamic, young team with proactive and very competent young partners.'
‘Vincent Ponsonnaille: track record, technicality, patience. Emmanuel Enrici: very proactive and thoughtful, with a strong commercial DNA and a very good understanding of the complexities of private equity operations (both on the legal level and in their strategic and transactional aspects).'
‘Responsiveness, high technical quality and pragmatism. Emmanuel Enrici: pragmatic and excellent legal practitioner.'
‘Unequalled sense of customer service. Excellent level, great availability, responsiveness, ability to create value on complex issues.'
Generally speaking, the entire Kirkland team is of a very high level, the best of the various councils with which we work. Laurent Victor-Michel and Nadine Gelli are recommended.'
‘Very responsive and always available team. Very technical.'
Key clients
- AXA Investment Management
- Advent International
- Arctos Sports Partners
- ArisGlobal
- Antin Infrastructure Partners
- Ares Management Corporation
- Cinven
- CPP Investments
- EQS Group
- Five Arrows PE
Work highlights
Advising CD&R and the consortium with Everest UK HoldCo Limited, an entity controlled by the Permira funds and the majority shareholder of Exclusive Networks, formed with a view to acquiring the shares of Exclusive Networks held by Everest UK HoldCo Limited and Olivier Breittmayer.
Advised IK Partners on the sale of a controlling interest in the firm to Wendel.
Advising Arctos Sports Partners on a partnership and investment deal with Qatar Sports Investments that will see Arctos acquire a minority equity stake in the football club Paris Saint-Germain.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Vincent Ponsonnaille
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Emmanuel Enrici
Practice head
Vincent Ponsonnaille; Laurent Victor-Michel
Other key lawyers
Emmanuel Enrici; Louis Gosset