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Kirkland & Ellis

Corporate/M&A: The Elite

USA Guide 2026 : New York

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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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Corporate/M&A: The Elite - New York

Band 1

What the Team is Known For
Kirkland & Ellis is a highly regarded firm that offers first-class expertise in M&A, including contested transactions and private equity. The corporate team is supported by integrated practices such as antitrust, tax, financing and capital markets, allowing it to handle the biggest of deals. The team's sector expertise covers pharmaceuticals, energy and telecommunications, among others. Kirkland's offices in Europe and Asia support the group's strong international capabilities. The corporate group also houses significant capabilities in matters of takeover defense.
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Work Highlights

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  • Kirkland & Ellis advised Amcor on its $37 billion merger with Berry Global.

Strengths

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  • They are among the best in the business, combining the expertise of Big Law with the strategic approach of a trusted adviser.

    Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

  • Every lawyer is excellent. They strike an appropriate balance between being commercial and not taking unnecessary risk, but being able to be aggressive when you want them to be.

    Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

  • They have deep bench strength across all disciplines.

    Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

  • Kirkland & Ellis has a top M&A transactional practice, a global presence and a client-focused model.

    Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

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  • Daniel E Wolf
    Daniel E Wolf

    Daniel E Wolf

    Daniel Wolf attracts praise from across the market for his consummate handling of M&A, activist defense and corporate governance matters. He boasts an enviable stable of top-flight clients, comprising influential multinational corporations. He has notable expertise advising on transactions in the life sciences and pharmaceuticals space.

    • He is a sophisticated strategic adviser and is well-connected.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • He is regarded as truly one of the elite M&A attorneys in America.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • Daniel is one of the pre-eminent M&A practitioners in the country and a highly valued partner for our company. He is extremely creative, solution-oriented and an exceptional negotiator.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • Daniel is a legend in the industry for a reason. He has a wealth of knowledge on all things M&A and activism defense.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA
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  • Shaun Mathew
    Shaun Mathew

    Shaun Mathew

    Shaun Mathew is a leader of the takeover defense practice at the firm. He regularly counsels clients on takeover responses, including proxy fights and preparedness.

    • Not only is he incredibly strong at his craft, but his sheer knowledge of hostile situations and the players within the activism world really sets him apart.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • Shaun helps clients to resolve issues quickly and effectively. He is a very smart lawyer who knows the right levers to pull.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • Shaun is extremely hands-on and knowledgeable. He has a great ability to understand what's important to the client, which enables him to help achieve their objectives.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • He is energetic, smart and articulate.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • Shaun is a visionary. He sees the whole picture and is able to provide clients with all the possible solutions to a situation while clearly articulating the pros and cons of each solution.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA
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  • Sarkis Jebejian
    Sarkis Jebejian

    Sarkis Jebejian

    Sarkis Jebejian is well respected for his handling of M&A and corporate governance matters. He acts for a number of prominent corporates and private equity clients.

    • Sarkis is a global lawyer with strong knowledge of the legislation and the implications of the business case. He brings fresh insights and perspectives to many facets of a case and is a devoted lawyer to his clients.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • He is thoughtful, measured and always responsive.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • Sarkis is excellent at briefing the board in high consequence meetings.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA
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  • David B Feirstein
    David B Feirstein

    David B Feirstein

    David Feirstein focuses his practices on advising clients on M&A, corporate governance and securities issues. He is active across numerous industries, including technology and pharmaceuticals.

    • He is an excellent lawyer.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • He is always responsive and willing to go out of his way for a client.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • David is brilliant. He is very practical, commercial and looks at the whole business. He is who we want from a company-wide partner.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • David has great judgment and understands what we are looking for and trying to achieve. He is able to tailor advice appropriately.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA
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  • Edward J Lee
    Edward J Lee

    Edward J Lee

    Edward Lee impresses with the depth of his knowledge in major domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and issues of corporate governance.

    • Ed is unusually strategic. He will really understand the commercial aims of a deal and also bring up strategic considerations that the business principles will want to be thinking about.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • He provides excellent guidance and always helps us navigate complex situations.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • Ed was instrumental in finding solutions to sticky deal points.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA
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  • Jonathan Davis
    Jonathan Davis

    Jonathan Davis

    Jonathan Davis generates acclaim for his strong grasp of public and private company M&A and governance work. He advises a number of prominent corporates and investment banks.

    • He is super client-oriented, practical and pragmatic.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • Jonathan is very knowledgeable, able to break things down and pragmatically apply the law and his experience in a way I can understand.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • He has expertise you can trust.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • Jonathan is highly responsive with sophisticated analysis of complex situations, while maintaining a high degree of commercial awareness, which enables him to craft practical solutions.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA
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  • Evan Johnson
    Evan Johnson

    Evan Johnson

    Evan Johnson focuses his practice on helping clients prepare for and respond to shareholder activism, proxy fights and hostile takeovers.

    • I am amazed by his technical legal expertise and ability to deliver that in a way myself and my business colleagues can understand.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • He provides clients with holistic perspectives and candid advice in stressful situations, and does so with a calm confidence.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • He is incredibly responsive and handles extremely complex issues for us.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • Evan is a really strong, very thoughtful attorney. He is a great collaborator and gives incredibly strong and strategic counsel.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • He turns this around to help companies defend themselves very effectively.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA
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  • Rachael Coffey
    Rachael Coffey

    Rachael Coffey

    Rachael Coffey is an up and coming partner, who advises public and private companies, as well as private equity clients, on a wide array of M&A transactions, activist defense and other corporate matters.

    • I never once worried that something would get dropped and, of course, it never did.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • She is extremely smart.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA

    • She is a very fine lawyer.

      Corporate/M&A: The Elite respondentUSA
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Ranked Individuals at Kirkland & Ellis (9)

New York

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