Department profile
Kirkland & Ellis

Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS

USA Guide 2026 : USA - Nationwide

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Kirkland & Ellis

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Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

For more information about Kirkland & Ellis’ practices, please visit kirkland.com/services.


Chambers Review

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Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS - USA - Nationwide

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Kirkland’s cross-border team offers expert credentials in securitization matters, with extensive experience structuring highly complex and first-of-their-kind transactions across the full range of structured financings, structured private credit transactions and securitizations. The firm acts for a broad range of borrowers, sponsors, asset managers, issuers and private credit funds, with a particular focus on whole business securitization, digital infrastructure securitization, oil and gas and energy infrastructure securitization and CLOs.

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Work Highlights

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  • Kirkland & Ellis represented Metronet on a $3.65 billion warehouse financing.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • K&E have the best-in-class understanding of the latest issues and are unmatched in respect of depth and breadth. They provide superior and commercial practical advice and have outstanding attention to detail and responsiveness.

    Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

  • K&E has deep institutional knowledge and provide helpful insights. They cover a variety of industries from whole business securitizations to digital infrastructure. They are really proactive and go the extra mile for their client.

    Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

  • K&E are distinguished by their level of advice and guidance. They are one of the leaders in the market and do the most complex transactions. They go above and beyond and advise us on the best path forward based on precedents.

    Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

  • Kirkland's market knowledge and commitment to detail is unsurpassed. Their commitment to client service is beyond what I have experienced. They thoughtfully work through issues, provide practical actionable advice and stay on top of market activity.

    Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

  • K&E has a highly sophisticated team that brings a great depth of experience that can be applied in unique, complex situations. They always perform consistently and reliably. They are business savvy and user-friendly. The team connects the dots, anticipates next steps and proactively identifies pitfalls.

    Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Michael Urschel
    Michael Urschel

    Michael Urschel

    Michael Urschel is a noted expert in the securitization of assets across a range of industries, from retail and hospitality to telecommunication. He is most recognized for his advice on the whole business market.

    • Michael is incredibly solution-oriented and very good at creative problem-solving.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

    • Michael is the godfather in the space for esoteric ABS. His practice is without parallel in terms of issuer-side representations, WBS and public company work.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

    • Michael is one of the best in the business. He really has a way of thinking that has allowed ABS to come into being for a lot of asset classes.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

    • Michael is one of the leading lawyers in the esoteric securitization arena, known for being commercially effective.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

    • He comes up with creative solutions to problems and is able to be flexible in his approach for the best outcome possible.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA
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  • Kelly Mellecker
    Kelly Mellecker

    Kelly Mellecker

    Kelly Mellecker is well known for her former work as managing director at Goldman, Sachs & Co. She is noted as bringing both banking and legal expertise to ABS transactions.

    • She understands things on a practical level and can navigate that through technical legal issues.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

    • Kelly is the definition of a sector expert.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

    • Kelly has a rare combination of both financial acumen and legal expertise, having worked as a leading banker in the sector.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

    • Kelly is really good at distilling complex situations and structures and explaining them in an easy-to-digest manner.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

    • Kelly worked with a top investment bank so really knows how to look at things from a banker's and an attorney's perspective. She is also such a smart attorney.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA
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  • Jared Axelrod
    Jared Axelrod

    Jared Axelrod

    Jared Axelrod is recognized for his expertise in executing CLO deals, where he possesses particular strength advising collateral managers.

    • Jared has always excelled at understanding the nuances of CLO documents and he has consistently pushed to make improvements where necessary.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

    • Jared is super knowledgeable about CLOs and really plugged into the market.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

    • Jared goes the extra step to meet us where we are at and understands the right balance of when to be aggressive and when to compromise.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA

    • Jared is very well versed in everything and anything related to CLOs. He is very good technically on unique and novel structuring issues. He understands our business and commercial objectives, and gives legal advice with that context in mind.

      Capital Markets: Securitization: ABS respondentUSA
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Ranked Individuals at Kirkland & Ellis (4)

USA - Nationwide

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