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Kirkland & Ellis

Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

UK Guide 2026 : UK-wide

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Kirkland & Ellis

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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

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.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • 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 respondentUK

  • 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 respondentUK

  • 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 respondentUK

  • 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 respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • David Higgins
    David Higgins

    David Higgins

    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.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • He has seen it all and always gives good advice.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

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

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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  • Adrian Maguire
    Adrian Maguire

    Adrian Maguire

    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.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Adrian is stellar.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

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

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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  • Alvaro Membrillera
    Alvaro Membrillera

    Alvaro Membrillera

    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.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

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

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

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

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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  • Matthew Elliott
    Matthew Elliott

    Matthew Elliott

    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.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • 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.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Matthew is a fantastic practitioner.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Matt is one of the best equity lawyers in London.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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  • Stuart Boyd
    Stuart Boyd

    Stuart Boyd

    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.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

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

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • 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.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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  • Will Aitken-Davies
    Will Aitken-Davies

    Will Aitken-Davies

    Will Aitken-Davies is a regular adviser to a number of major private equity houses. He is active on a range of transactions, including LBOs, M&A and restructurings.

    • Will anticipates potential issues and addresses them before they escalate, ensuring seamless transaction progress. He provides clear explanations of legal complexities and minimises uncertainty.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Will is easy to work with, commercial and sensible.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Will is very thoughtful and easy to work with.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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  • Keir MacLennan
    Keir MacLennan

    Keir MacLennan

    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.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Keir is extremely commercial, hard-working and pragmatic.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Keir does a great job on private equity transactions.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

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

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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Ranked Individuals at Kirkland & Ellis (7)

UK-wide

  • Profile image of David Higgins

    David Higgins

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

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  • Profile image of Adrian Maguire

    Adrian Maguire

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

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  • Profile image of Alvaro Membrillera

    Alvaro Membrillera

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

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  • Profile image of Matthew Elliott

    Matthew Elliott

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

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  • Profile image of Stuart Boyd

    Stuart Boyd

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

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  • Profile image of Will Aitken-Davies

    Will Aitken-Davies

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

    View profile
  • Profile image of Keir MacLennan

    Keir MacLennan

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

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Members

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