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Kirkland & Ellis

Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket

Europe Guide 2026 : UK

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Kirkland & Ellis

Rankings

Chambers Review

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Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket - UK

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Kirkland & Ellis houses a standout bench of market-leading sponsor-side specialists who are able to provide advice on the full gamut of European and US financing products. The team is active across the spectrum of mid-market to large-cap deals, acting on behalf of both domestic and international private equity clients. It is identified for its deft handling of bank and bond-financed LBOs and refinancings and ably assists clients with distressed matters spanning portfolio acquisitions and rescue financings.

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Work Highlights

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  • Kirkland & Ellis advised Harp Bidco in relation to a £1.75 billion senior secured unitranche facility and a £270 million super senior revolving credit facility used to acquire Hargreaves Lansdown. Harp Bido is a special purpose vehicle backed by Platinum Ivy, CVC and Nordic Capital.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • They are really plugged in the market with good knowledge of different lenders and their specifics.

    Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope

  • No two of our deals are the same and often require thoughtful problem-solving to reach a solution. Kirkland demonstrate that ability to think outside the box and offer differentiated solutions

    Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope

  • They have a very strong set of London-based partners, but also consistently demonstrate the ability to bring the entire firm to bear across multiple geographies and specialist areas.

    Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope

  • They have excellent market judgement and world class product knowledge, as well as the ability to operate across borders and on a global basis

    Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope

  • We benefit from the large number of deals they see in the market. They are always at the forefront in both the EU and US and they see the latest terms and market views.

    Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Stephen Lucas
    Stephen Lucas

    Stephen Lucas

    Stephen Lucas acts as a member of Kirkland's executive committee. He maintains an excellent reputation for his expert representation of sponsors in structured and leveraged finance matters. He is regarded as a go-to for major private equity houses to advise on complex matters.

    • Stephen Lucas remains the go-to guy, when you have the most difficult calls to make. No doubt about that.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope
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  • Ian Barratt
    Ian Barratt

    Ian Barratt

    Ian Barratt continues to be regarded as one of the premier choices for sponsor-side representation. He is frequently instructed by leading private equity clients to advise on leveraged acquisition finance matters and is well versed in cross-border transactions.

    • Ian is the lawyer of choice on everything that we do. He is by far the best lawyer I have ever worked with. He's more than a lawyer, he has that commercial understanding.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope

    • He is a very respected figure in the industry. He's innovative, in tune with the market conditions and constantly looking for ways to optimise things.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope
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  • Christopher Shield
    Christopher Shield

    Christopher Shield

    Christopher Shield is held in high regard for his leveraged finance expertise and regularly acts for an impressive list of private equity clients on large-cap mandates such as public-to-privates and acquisition financings.

    • Chris Shields is one of the most experienced lawyers out there, and among the safest pair of hands. If the house is on fire, I'd call Chris.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope

    • Chris is world class in every respect.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope
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  • Kirsteen Nicol
    Kirsteen Nicol

    Kirsteen Nicol

    Kirsteen Nicol is a go-to practitioner in the London finance market and is noted in particular for her strength in large-cap cross-border financings. Her clients include a number of leading sponsors.

    • She's highly competent and extremely responsive.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope

    • We work with her a lot on complex deals, and she has a spectacular way of coming up with right structuring to achieve what we are looking for.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope
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  • Daniel Borg
    Daniel Borg

    Daniel Borg

    Daniel Borg is a debt finance expert who advises leading private equity sponsors on financing transactions.

    • He navigates extremely difficult situations seamlessly.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope

    • He shows extraordinary levels of commercial awareness, understanding of the client and commitment to delivering

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope
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  • Evgeny Zborovsky
    Evgeny Zborovsky

    Evgeny Zborovsky

    Evgeny Zborovsky regularly acts for well-known mid-cap as well as big-ticket sponsors, including on transactions with sophisticated structures and across jurisdictions.

    • He's very well regarded and well respected.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope

    • I continue to value his quality advice.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope

    • Evgeny is my go-to lawyer. He has always delivered and he is my trusted counsellor - I like to pick his creative brain very early when faced with an important issue.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope
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  • Vanessa Xu
    Vanessa Xu

    Vanessa Xu

    Vanessa Xu has a leveraged finance focused practice that sees her advising private equity sponsors on their acquisitions.

    • Vanessa is an extraordinary lawyer. I trust Vanessa’s instinct, knowledge and negotiation tactics to get us the best outcome possible.

      Leveraged Finance: Borrowers/Sponsors: Big Ticket respondentEurope
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Ranked Individuals at Kirkland & Ellis (7)

UK

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