Kirkland & Ellis International LLP's real estate finance team is distinguished by its dedicated focus on advising borrowers in complex, pan-European transactions, with expertise in sophisticated CMBS and mezzanine financing structures. The practice is jointly led by Jonathan Birks and Kazik Michalski, and their recent work highlights the team’s breadth across different asset classes: Birks, working alongside debt finance partner Peter Chandler, handles major cross-border financings of European office portfolios for foreign investment management firms, while Michalski is a key advisor for sovereign wealth funds and international developers on large-scale acquisition deals for student accommodation-related mandates.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Outstanding legal advice. Creative problem solving. Able to meet any deadlines.'
- 'Jonathan Birks and Kazik Michalski are excellent finance pros who can solve problems.'
Key clients
- GIC
- Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
- Fulham Football Club
- TPG Real Estate
- Brookfield
- GLP Capital Partners
- Apollo
- KKR
- Greykite
- P3 Group
- Blackstone
- CyrusOne
Work highlights
Advising GIC and Greystar on their refinancing of Student Roost, their UK student accommodation platform.
Advising Greykite on the acquisition by the Greykite European Real Estate Fund of a large logistics portfolio of 13 assets totalling 400,000 sqm in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
Represented CD&R in the financing of an internal sale and leaseback transaction in respect of a large portfolio of Morrisons supermarkets.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Jonathan Birks; Kazik Michalski
Other key lawyers
Peter Chandler