Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer was formed following the merger between Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin in June 2025. Ernest Wechsler leads the private equity practice at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, with extensive experience representing private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, and strategic acquirers and sellers across financial services, technology, manufacturing, consumer products, and energy. He is joined by Howard Spilko, who is prepared to handle the strategic use of representations and warranties insurance in acquisitions and related claims. Adi Herman advises clients on cross-border transactions involving European, Israeli, and other international markets, while Jonathan Goodman focuses on middle-market corporate investment transactions. Another key name is Christian Witzke, whose work spans a range of industries. All lawyers mentioned above are based in New York.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Key clients
- Alliant Insurance Services
- Nuveen Asset Management and Avenue Capital Management II
- Pacific Investment Management Company
- Focus Financial Partners
- Acoustic, L.P.
- CRC Group
- PSP Investments
- Stone Point Capital
- Atlantic Street Capital
- Third Point Investors Limited
- AmTrust Financial Services
- ARC Excess & Surplus
Work highlights
Advised Alliant Insurance Services in connection with its $25 billion equity recap.
Advised Nuveen Asset Management, LLC and Avenue Capital Management II, LP in connection with Vistra Corp's acquisition of a 15% equity interest in Vistra Vision LLC held by our client's affiliates.
Represented Focus Financial Partners, a CD&R and Stone Point Capital portfolio company, in connection with its hub firm Focus Partners Wealth's acquisition of Churchill Management Corporation.
Practice head
Ernest Wechsler
Other key lawyers
Howard Spilko; Adi Herman; Jonathan Goodman; Christian Witzke