Department profile
Kirkland & Ellis

Investment Funds: Private Equity

UK Guide 2026 : UK-wide


Kirkland & Ellis

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Investment Funds: Private Equity - UK-wide

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

A commanding force in the private equity space, Kirkland & Ellis handles an exceptional volume of high-profile formation work. Its funds group is well versed in raising for buyout funds, funds of funds real estate and infrastructure funds, as well as large secondary transactions. The firm represents a large number of the leading European asset managers and private equity sponsors. Its practice is complemented by tax, regulatory, securities and ERISA expertise at the firm. The department is also able to draw on the experience of a wide range of international teams to assist on cross-border matters for global clients. Kirkland & Ellis has enjoyed notable growth in its real estate funds capabilities in recent years.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Regarding private equity, Kirkland & Ellis advised Nordic Capital on its mid-market fund, Evolution Fund II, which closed at EUR2 billion.

  • Regarding secondaries, Kirkland & Ellis advised Coller Capital as investor in DevCo Partners' EUR616 million single asset CV.

  • Regarding credit funds, Kirkland & Ellis advised Ares Management on its European direct lending fund, Ares Capital Europe VI, which closed at EUR17.1 billion.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Their fund team is very strong. They have experts in the market, who work hard and the quality of their client care is very high.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • The team is one of the best we've worked with in terms of reactivity, availability and expertise.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • Kirkland’s private funds team stands out for its unmatched depth of experience, market-leading insight and ability to execute complex fund structures at scale.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • Kirkland & Ellis is the industry lead. Their experience and database of key terms is unmatched.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • They are market leading in the quality of their advice. Everything is top notch. As a team, they are at the forefront of the industry.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Aleksander Bakic
    Band 1Aleksander Bakic

    Aleksander Bakic

    Aleksander Bakic stands out for his secondaries market expertise. He counsels clients on matters such as fund restructures and spinouts.

    • Aleksander has as a huge command of knowledge of the sector at his fingertips. He is a stand out performer for secondaries in Europe.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Aleksander operates at the highest level and has a deep understanding of the general partner-led market.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Aleksander is sharp, commercial and deeply knowledgeable in the secondaries space. He has a strong grasp of general partner-led dynamics.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Aleksander is a very strong market leader. His outwards presence in the wider market and deal execution is really fantastic.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Aleksander Bakic is one of the most experienced secondaries lawyer in Europe.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • Band 1Anand Damodaran
    Band 1Anand Damodaran

    Anand Damodaran

    Anand Damodaran advises leading private equity sponsors on the establishment of buyout funds. He is further recognised for his work on European-focused credit funds.
    • Anand is a superstar. If private funds was a law school module, he would be the leading professor.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Anand has excellent legal and commercial knowledge.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Anand is very smart and very client-oriented. He has been a great support for us.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • Band 1Andrew Shore
    Band 1Andrew Shore

    Andrew Shore

    Andrew Shore has a flourishing practice advising private equity sponsors on fundraisings and secondary transactions. He also works with those clients on co-investment and carried interest.

    • Andrew is just extremely commercial and client-focused. On a personal and professional level, he is a good lawyer and a compassionate and nice person. He is incredible.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • He is a great partner in transactions and very commercial.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Andrew has impressed on all fronts. He has been a safe pair of hands, guiding us in a commercial, knowledgeable and considered manner.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • Band 1Richard Watkins
    Band 1Richard Watkins

    Richard Watkins

    Richard Watkins is hailed for his expertise in the formation of large-cap private equity funds. The quality of his practice means that his advice is sought out by leading international sponsors.
    • Richard has first-class experience across investment funds. His technical knowledge is exceptional and he displays excellent commercial awareness.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Richard is one of the more tenured members and is up to speed on latest market dynamics.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Richard Watkins is very well respected in the market and is extremely commercial.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • Band 1Theodore Cardos
    Band 1Theodore Cardos

    Theodore Cardos

    Theodore Cardos is known for his extensive experience advising clients on secondary market transactions. He frequently assists on continuation fund formations, which involve notable cross-border elements.

    • He is incredibly commercial and looking to sync the legal process to the commercial process to drive the best outcome.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Theodore has a great combination of commercial awareness and technical skill. He has unparalleled experience on CV transactions.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Theodore is the godfather of secondaries in Europe and one of the most innovative and groundbreaking partners in this market.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Theodore is a great individual in managing relationships. He has quality client relationships and he effortlessly manages those.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Theodore is hugely smart and very commercial. He gets to the point incredibly quickly and has a breadth of experience that is unrivalled.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • Band 2Alex Amos
    Band 2Alex Amos

    Alex Amos

    Alex Amos is noted for his work in private equity and credit fund formation for leading European managers. He also assists clients with matters relating to secondary market transactions.

    • Alex has been amazing. Not only did he immediately understand what we were trying to achieve strategically and commercially, but he was also very practical and concrete.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Alex has a great track record.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Alex has a great reputation. He is very good and solid.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • Band 2Christopher Braunack
    Band 2Christopher Braunack

    Christopher Braunack

    Christopher Braunack is adept at advising investment management groups on high-profile fund formation and structuring. His focus is on buyout funds, and his client list includes many market-leading sponsors.
    • Christopher is a go-to for strategic advice; reliably providing commercial, intelligent and thoughtful input on complex and sensitive matters.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Christopher displays excellent commercial awareness. He is the go-to partner if you have a business critical issue that you need sound commercial advice to resolve.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Christopher Braunack is the heavy hitting big shot lawyer who is there for the tough calls. He is the heavyweight.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • Band 3Amala Ejikeme
    Band 3Amala Ejikeme

    Amala Ejikeme

    Amala Ejikeme regularly represents European sponsor clients in high-value fundraisings for private funds. He advises on buyout, credit, digital assets, growth, impact, infrastructure, real estate and venture funds.

    • Amala Ejikeme is very polished, very bright and very able.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Amala is an absolute superstar. He is responsive, reliable, creative and easy to deal with.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Amala provides a combination of commercial and market awareness with technical prowess. He offers great client service. He is the Carlos Alcaraz of private funds.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • Band 3Jonathan Tadd
    Band 3Jonathan Tadd

    Jonathan Tadd

    Jonathan Tadd advises GP-side clients on the formation, operation and closing out of both domestic and international real estate, infrastructure and real asset credit funds.

    • Jonathan brings a lot of deal experience, is proactive, constructive and helpful in helping find solutions, as well as bringing the horsepower to execute a complex, big transaction.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Jonathan is very commercial.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Jon is very skilled, very available, always around and very pleasant.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Jon and his team have been integral to the successful launch of our fund.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
  • Band 4Amy Fox
    Band 4Amy Fox

    Amy Fox

    Amy Fox represents major players in the European private equity funds space. She has experience advising clients on regulatory compliance and large-cap fund launches.

    • Amy is an extremely thoughtful and detailed lawyer.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Amy Fox is one of the true experts and rising stars in the UK fund formation practice. She has extensive and exceedingly good knowledge of the market in Europe and UK.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    • Amy is very technically skilled and combines that with excellent project management skills, making her the perfect hybrid who ensures to get things done and right.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

Ranked Individuals at Kirkland & Ellis (12)

UK-wide

Kirkland & Ellis has rankings in the following guides

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