About

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

We are one of the most active and highly regarded private equity practices globally, with private equity lawyers working out of all Firm offices. The Hong Kong office is integral of Kirkland’s premier private equity practice.


We have one of the largest private equity partner teams in Asia that is dedicated to complex private equity transactions - including LBOs and other M&A, PIPEs and joint ventures - and one that is paired with the largest PE funds practice in the world and the leading practice in Asia.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Equity: Buyouts & Venture Capital Investment (International Firms) - China

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Band 1

What the Team is Known For

The standout private equity team of Kirkland & Ellis has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai and advises on the full range of private equity deals, from fund formation to exits. It is particularly active in LBOs and going-private transactions. The firm remains a trusted adviser to leading US private equity houses, with a growing base of Asian clients, including regional funds. The practice is notably experienced in Hong Kong public takeover deals.

Work Highlights

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

  • Kirkland & Ellis represented The Carlyle Group in the sale of its entire stake in the strategic partnership that operates and manages the McDonald’s business in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau to McDonald’s for approximately USD1.8 billion.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Gary Li
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Gary Li
1
Band 1

Gary Li is well regarded for the depth of his experience. He offers expert advice to high-profile international private equity firms and investment managers on take-privates, acquisitions and investments.

Gary is a very good long-term partner for us.

Gary is a very strong partner with both legal knowledge and commercial awareness. We highly value his experience in deal structuring.

Gary has a strong reputation.

Peng Yu
3
Peng Yu
3
Band 3

Yu Peng maintains an active practice assisting international investors with their inbound and outbound exits and investments in primarily Asia-based target companies and assets.

He often comes up with creative and commercial solutions to our complex and important transactions. 

Yu Peng is probably one of the best private equity lawyers we have worked with in the market. He's very responsive and hands-on, with deep knowledge in the private equity space.

He has obviously done various transactions, so has been able to share with us a lot of insights when handling complex situations. He has a strong sense of what we want to achieve at the business end.

Jesse Sheley
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Jesse Sheley
4
Band 4

Jesse Sheley is co-head of the firm's private equity practice in Hong Kong and is a highly respected private equity lawyer who counts a number of prominent global PE firms among his clientele.

He has strong technical competencies, excellent leadership skills to ensure his team meets or exceeds our expectations, and a commercial mindset to achieve the ideal outcome for his clients.

He's a very skilful lawyer who is quite sophisticated and very innovative, with very good personal characteristics. Dealing with him is a delight.

He's a smart and able lawyer with experience in Asia doing cross-border private equity deals.

Ranked Lawyers at
Kirkland & Ellis

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

China

Private Equity: Buyouts & Venture Capital Investment (International Firms)

Gary Li
1
Gary Li
1
Band 1
Peng Yu
3
Peng Yu
3
Band 3
Jesse Sheley
4
Jesse Sheley
4
Band 4

Members

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis