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Kirkland & Ellis
Department profile | Kirkland & Ellis
Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

About

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland has the largest dedicated private equity and financial investor practice in the market, acting for a mix of US and European private equity funds, pension and sovereign wealth funds and financial investors with real estate funds. The team advises across all transactions types including public transactions, carve outs, minority and majority deals, bolt-ons and exits, across any sector. Working in conjunction with the deepest bench of private equity and financial investor-focused practitioners, Kirkland provides clients with unbeatable expertise in highly complex transactions and cross-border deals.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above - UK-wide

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Kirkland & Ellis is recognised for its outstanding, international sponsor-side practice, which handles complex, high-end private equity transactions. It continues to act for a range of high-profile investors in the industry, with its client base spanning a broad spectrum of leading UK, US and European investors. The department's extensive expertise covers issues such as LBOs, going-private deals, restructurings and recapitalisations.

Work Highlights

  • Kirkland & Ellis advised Blackstone on the £1.8 billion acquisition of Hipgnosis Songs Fund.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Kirkland & Ellis have a strong ability to manage complex processes, even in tight timelines. The team are very solutions-focused.

Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondent
UK

The team provide an unprecedented level of commitment. They are not only strong from a technical standpoint, but have an ability to sense the bigger picture.

Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondent
UK

The firm's ability to offer a fully integrated range of expertise means they can seamlessly execute transactions. The quality of the lawyers is top notch, with a lot of experience.

Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondent
UK

The Kirkland & Ellis team have been true thought partners, helping us navigate complexity to achieve the right outcomes commercially and to position us for success.

Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondent
UK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

David Higgins
E
David Higgins
E
Eminent Practitioners

David Higgins is widely acclaimed as a foremost talent in the UK private equity market. His leading practice is routinely engaged to advise in connection with major cross-border transactions. Higgins also sits on Kirkland & Ellis's executive committee.

David is their oracle; he's the person I would think about going to for real questions of judgement. David has such a deep and broad set of experience in his career that he's a great sounding board.

He has seen it all and always gives good advice.

David is brilliant. He is very calm, has a huge amount of experience and is excellent in any scenario.

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Adrian Maguire
1
Adrian Maguire
1
Band 1
Adrian Maguire is the subject of acclaim from across the market owing to the superlative standard of his private equity practice. He represents clients in a range of sophisticated deals, often involving European and US sponsors.

Adrian is very practical and tenacious.

Adrian is stellar.

Adrian is an exceptional lawyer. He is a great credit to Kirkland & Ellis.

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Alvaro Membrillera
2
Alvaro Membrillera
2
Band 2

Alvaro Membrillera is widely respected for his close relationships with some of the foremost US-based sponsors in the market. Membrillera's matters have included acquisitions, disposals, minority investments and carve-outs in a variety of European jurisdictions.

Alvaro is very smart and capable.

He is always available and very smart in negotiations. I would bet on Alvaro.

Alvaro's deep subject matter expertise, creativity, work ethic and commitment to clients is invaluable and unique.

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Matthew Elliott
2
Matthew Elliott
2
Band 2
Matthew Elliott maintains an excellent practice concentrated on the representation of private equity funds in a host of transactions. His reputation is particularly emphasised in the real estate space.

Matthew has a strong network within the private equity industry. He is able to execute complex, multi-jurisdiction transactions.

Matthew is an excellent lawyer. In particular, he has strong commercial instincts and is able to positively impact transactions through a combination of knowledge, experience, gravitas and approach.

Matthew is a fantastic practitioner.

Matt is one of the best equity lawyers in London.

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Stuart Boyd
3
Stuart Boyd
3
Band 3

Stuart Boyd displays strength in representing private equity and other investor clients in a broad range of transactions. He is particularly known for his ability for take-privates, carve-outs and acquisitions.

Stuart is always highly sophisticated in dealing with complex transactions and he has a high level of commercial awareness.

Stuart is excellent. He is very sharp, so he quickly understands complex issues and the nuances that they often entail.

Stuart is my go-to lawyer for any significant or complex transaction, not only for his commercial instincts but also for his ability to calibrate risks and see around corners.

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Keir MacLennan
U
Keir MacLennan
U
Up and Coming

Keir MacLennan is a well-respected partner in the private equity space. He is particularly adept at advising private equity clients on M&A, take-privates and carve-outs.

Keir is an excellent lawyer. He understands complex structures and can distil them down into readily digestible pieces for teams to understand and solve.

Keir is extremely commercial, hard-working and pragmatic.

Keir does a great job on private equity transactions.

Keir is a doer; he's actually on the deals, not just overseeing them.

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Ranked Lawyers at
Kirkland & Ellis

Provided by Chambers
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UK-wide

Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above
David Higgins
E
David Higgins
E
Eminent Practitioners
View Profile
Adrian Maguire
1
Adrian Maguire
1
Band 1
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Alvaro Membrillera
2
Alvaro Membrillera
2
Band 2
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Matthew Elliott
2
Matthew Elliott
2
Band 2
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Stuart Boyd
3
Stuart Boyd
3
Band 3
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Keir MacLennan
U
Keir MacLennan
U
Up and Coming
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