Kirkland & Ellis International LLP represents a broad roster of financial services clients, including fund administration and depositary businesses, insurance and credit brokerage businesses, financial advisory firms, and payment service operators. Co-head, Lisa Cawley, leverages her strong reputation with private equity and investment firms to advise on regulatory compliance, FCA authorisations, fund structuring, governance, and evolving EU/UK financial services rules, including ESG considerations. Julia Dixon focuses on private equity funds and financial services clients, providing strategic regulatory guidance while navigating complex fund structuring, cross-border deals, governance frameworks, and compliance with evolving UK and EU financial regulations. Thomas Woodhead brings expertise in FCA regulation for private fund sponsors, advising on fund structuring and financial services M&A across diverse alternative investment strategies, with a keen focus on emerging industry trends. Skilled in regulatory issues within the private investment fund industry, Adam Skinner focuses on primary and secondary fundraising and GP-led transactions. Deirdre Haugh and Albert Weatherill are other important names to note.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Technically very strong, great business/market understanding, very pragmatic and commercial, extremely responsive to requests but also proactive.'
Key clients
- Advent International
- Antin Infrastructure Partners
- Apax
- Apollo Global Management
- CVC
- EQT
- GIC
- GLP
- Nordic Capital
- Oaktree Capital Management
- Permira
- Starwood Capital Group
Work highlights
Advising on the regulatory aspects of several high-profile, multi-billion-dollar asset management M&A transactions, including deals involving Arctos, Clearlake Capital, Castlelake, GLP, and a consortium led by Starwood. The complex diligence, integration planning, and engagement that was undertaken to secure regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions reflects the team’s strength in cross-border financial regulatory matters on both the buy and sell sides.
Advising a broad range of private fund sponsor clients on significant regulatory change initiatives and developments impacting the market, including (among others) AIFMD II, access to retail capital, the FCA’s Valuations Review, and the FCA’s amended Change in Control guidelines.
Advising Harp Bidco (financed by a consortium of CVC funds, Nordic Capital and Platinum Ivy) on obtaining FCA approval for the £5.4 billion public-to-private takeover of Hargreaves Lansdown plc.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Deirdre Haugh
Albert Weatherill
Practice head
Lisa Cawley; Julia Dixon; Thomas Woodhead
Other key lawyers
Adam Skinner; Deirdre Haugh; Albert Weatherill