Deliberately and determinedly focused on borrower-side mandates, Kirkland & Ellis International LLP remains a tour-de-force for many of the world’s largest financial sponsors seeking to execute high value and often very complex leveraged finance deals. Stephen Lucas and Ian Barratt, who joined the firm at the end of 2023 from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, are two of the most experienced practitioners in the market and continue to drive growth in the practice, both on new money and refinancing deals. As well as his vibrant fee-earning practice, Chris Shield has also recently taken on increased management commitments within the team, a reflection of his market profile. New York and UK-qualified partner Evgeny Zborovsky excels in incorporating US terms in the European market and is consequently a very popular choice for clients seeking to exact the most flexibility across both big-ticket and mid-market deals. Daniel Borg, Kirsteen Nicol, Sinead O’Shea and Vanessa Xu are also key members of the team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Work Department
Debt Finance
Position
Christopher Shield is a partner in the banking and finance department of the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. Christopher has banking and debt finance experience including domestic and cross-border syndicated lending, leverage acquisitions, investment grade lending and general banking.
Career
2009 to present Kirkland & Ellis International LLP; 2008-2009 Allen & Overy LLP; 2005-2008 DLA Piper UK LLP.
Memberships
Law Society of England and Wales
Education
College of Law, York (Post Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice, 2003); Queen Mary College, University of London (LL.B. 2002)
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team's commercial judgement is exceptional.' 'Evgeny Zborovsky is one of a kind. He is one of the smartest lawyers I have ever worked with. His level of technicality/ability to combine complicated concepts and creativity is exceptional.'
Key clients
- Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) Advent International Antin Infrastructure Partners Apax Partners Apollo Bain Capital Blackstone Infrastructure Partners CapVest Partners Cinven CPP Investments CVC EQT GIC KKR Nordic Capital Oakley Capital PAI Partners Providence Equity Partners Starwood Capital Group Strategic Value Partners TA Associates Thoma Bravo TPG
Work highlights
Advising Harp Bidco Limited, a special purpose acquisition vehicle financed by the Consortium consisting of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (via their subsidiary Platinum Ivy), CVC and Nordic Capital, on its recommended cash acquisition of the entire issued and to-be-issued ordinary share capital of Hargreaves Lansdown plc.
Advised KKR and CPP Investments on a new syndicated €1.925bn-equivalent TLB and €300m RCF to support the acquisition of The Stepstone Group and provide standalone financing for The Stepstone Group following its spin out from Axel Springer.
Advised TPG Rise Climate and GIC on the debt financing aspects of the acquisition of Techem Group, including: (i) a €750m senior secured note offering; and (ii) a change of control amendment in respect of Techem’s €1,850m TLB and €375m RCF.