About

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis is a global leader in providing sophisticated advice to investment fund sponsors, institutional investors and other market participants in the alternative investment fund space. Kirkland offers clients the unsurpassed resources of a large, integrated, multidisciplinary, global team located across offices in the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific. 

With one of the largest and most active client bases of any law firm, Kirkland is uniquely positioned to provide unsurpassed market intelligence and cutting-edge solutions to address the broad spectrum of legal, regulatory, tax and commercial challenges facing investment funds and their sponsors in today’s market. Kirkland’s Investment Funds attorneys represent a diverse group of clients ranging from some of the world’s largest multi-strategy alternative asset managers and financial institutions to independent boutiques and sponsors raising first-time funds. Kirkland also represents a wide range of institutional investors around the globe, including sovereign wealth funds, family offices, corporations and other investors in private funds. These clients operate across a broad spectrum of alternative investment asset classes and strategies.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Investment Funds: Private Equity - UK

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 Kirkland & Ellis

  • Regarding real estate funds, Kirkland & Ellis advised Antin Infrastructure Partners on the formation of Antin Infrastructure Fund V.

  • Regarding private equity funds, Kirkland & Ellis advised Bowmark Capital on the formation of its Bowmark Capital Partners VII fund, closing at £900 million.

  • Regarding secondaries, Kirkland & Ellis acted for GHO Capital in on a USD1.1 billion continuation fund transaction.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

1
Anand Damodaran
1
Band 1
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 just seems to know the answers to everything we ask. 

A true credit funds industry leader.

Anand is without any doubt the best lawyer I have ever worked with. He is extremely technically skilled, with fantastic attention to detail and with an excellent commercial overlay and judgement.

Anand is a credit specialist and is very, very good at that - possibly the best for that at the moment.

Anand is the best credit funds lawyer out there. One of the brightest legal minds in the City, and he balances that with commerciality and unique views.

Andrew Shore
1
Andrew Shore
1
Band 1

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 creative and thoughtful, and has a huge and varied practice, so when it comes to novel issues he's the one I'll call because I can get an answer from him within a couple of hours.

Super responsive and clever, Andrew always finds ways and solutions.

Andrew is a very strong, experienced and commercially minded lawyer.

Andy is very knowledgeable and works to get to a resolution on the legal issues raised.

Andrew is fantastic. He is very commercial and good on very complex things, proposing solutions to solve them.

Richard Watkins
1
Richard Watkins
1
Band 1
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 is very smart, with enormous market knowledge matched by a calm, problem-solving approach. A true industry leader in London.

Richard is highly experienced, has good technical knowledge and provides commercial support.

Richard has excellent market knowledge and provides insightful, commercial advice. He also has a great ability to explain complex topics in a clear and easy manner.

Christopher Braunack
2
Christopher Braunack
2
Band 2
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 provides an excellent, client-focused service. He has a great ability to work through problems in an innovative manner to get to a solution.

Christopher has an understanding of the strategic overview of how and when to do things. He gives very valuable input.

4
Alex Amos
4
Band 4

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 is a great addition to the team. He is hugely smart and calm under pressure.

Amala Ejikeme
4
Amala Ejikeme
4
Band 4

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 is very good and commercial.

Amala is very dynamic.

Amala is a very capable lawyer.

4
Amy Fox
4
Band 4

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 exceptional lawyer who blends subject matter expertise with commercial sense and a high level of client service.

Amy is excellent all round and provides us with great support.

Amy is very technically skilled and combines that with excellent project management skills.

4
Jonathan Tadd
4
Band 4

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 is a superb lawyer. He is supremely hard-working, but calm, clever, measured and likeable.

Jonathan is a very capable funds lawyer and has a very good practice.

4
Paul Sampson
4
Band 4

Paul Sampson represents fund sponsors on the structuring, formation and operation of a broad range of private investment funds across all major real asset sectors, including real estate, infrastructure, transportation and private credit.

Paul ensures that we are being serviced to the highest standards at all times.

Paul is a true pleasure to work alongside. His experience, depth of knowledge, and ability to see swiftly to the heart of commercial objectives mean that he is able to deliver clear and timely advice.

Paul is responsive, understands the structures and has a good understanding of the funds landscape. He is very client-friendly.

Paul is excellent - he's very clear and understands things well. 

Paul communicates very well with non-lawyers and makes complex things simple.

U
Louisa Cobbe
U
Up and Coming

Louisa Cobbe advises sponsors and investors on the establishment and operation of funds, co-investment and joint venture structures, with a primary focus on real estate and infrastructure.

Louisa is among the leading practitioners. She has incredibly deep knowledge of their markets and the people involved in them.

Louisa is an incredibly skilful funds lawyer who has a unique ability to operate in high-pressure situations with remarkable professionalism and composure, inspiring the confidence of her clients.

Louisa is a great addition to the real estate funds team.

Ranked Lawyers at
Kirkland & Ellis

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

UK

Investment Funds: Private Equity

1
Anand Damodaran
1
Band 1
Andrew Shore
1
Andrew Shore
1
Band 1
Richard Watkins
1
Richard Watkins
1
Band 1
Christopher Braunack
2
Christopher Braunack
2
Band 2
4
Alex Amos
4
Band 4
Amala Ejikeme
4
Amala Ejikeme
4
Band 4
4
Amy Fox
4
Band 4
Investment Funds: Real Estate

4
Jonathan Tadd
4
Band 4
4
Paul Sampson
4
Band 4
U
Louisa Cobbe
U
Up and Coming