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Kirkland & Ellis

Private Equity: High-end Capability

France Guide 2026 : France

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Kirkland & Ellis

Rankings

About

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland’s Paris office advises leading private equity and financial sponsor clients on the largest and most complex transactions in the French market. The team consistently acts on landmark transactions in France and across the European private equity sector.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Equity: High-end Capability - France

What the Team is Known For

Kirkland & Ellis acts on both the buy and sell sides of transactions that are often of a multi-jurisdictional scope. The practice enjoys a broad client base encompassing private equity funds and institutional investors. The team collaborates with the firm's UK and US offices to provide clients coverage of the key markets of the sector.

À propos de l’équipe

Kirkland & Ellis agit à la fois à l’achat et à la vente sur des opérations qui ont souvent une portée internationale. La pratique a une large clientèle englobant des fonds de private equity et des investisseurs institutionnels. L’équipe collabore avec les bureaux du cabinet au Royaume-Uni et aux États-Unis pour fournir aux clients une couverture complète des marchés clés du secteur.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Kirkland & Ellis advised CD&R on the EUR16 billion acquisition of a 50% stake in Sanofi’s consumer healthcare business Opella.

  • Kirkland & Ellis a conseillé CD&R dans le cadre de l’acquisition d’une participation de 50% dans Opella, la branche consumer healthcare de Sanofi, pour un montant de EUR16 milliards.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Kirkland & Ellis's deep private equity experience differentiates it in this space. The team understands our goals and the market standards around them.

    Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

  • The responsiveness and the quality of the tailor-made advice make working with Kirkland & Ellis particularly enjoyable.

    Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

  • Kirkland & Ellis is very commercial. Its suggestions go beyond the legal framework, thus best serving our commercial interests.

    Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

  • Kirkland & Ellis provides the highest standard of quality I have ever experienced. Being assisted by this firm is like travelling first class.

    Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

  • Kirkland & Ellis demonstrates unparalleled responsiveness, an international network that can be effectively mobilised and very extensive expertise in complex subjects.

    Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

  • La réactivité et la qualité des conseils personnalisés rendent la collaboration avec Kirkland & Ellis particulièrement agréable.

    Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Vincent Ponsonnaille
    Vincent Ponsonnaille

    Vincent Ponsonnaille

    Vincent Ponsonnaille operates a market-leading practice, regularly acting on large-scale investments and disposals, and can claim a client base of major investment and private equity funds. He is particularly adept at advising on cross-border transactions.

    Vincent Ponsonnaille a une pratique de premier plan sur le marché, intervenant régulièrement sur des investissements et cessions large cap, et peut se targuer d’une clientèle de grands fonds d’investissement et de private equity. Il est particulièrement experimenté pour conseiller sur les transactions cross-border.

    • Vincent Ponsonnaille is extremely hard-working, diligent and commercial.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Vincent Ponsonnaille is highly trustworthy, experienced and attentive to his clients.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Vincent is one of the most recognised lawyers in the Paris market. He has an excellent understanding of the dynamics of the sales process and competition.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Vincent Ponsonnaille is pragmatic and able to propose solutions.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Vincent brings a deeply experienced and balanced perspective to our dealings. He excels putting himself in the counterparty's shoes and advising from that perspective.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Vincent apporte une perspective profondément expérimentée et équilibrée à nos échanges. Il excelle à se mettre à la place de la contrepartie et à conseiller à partir de ce point de vue.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Vincent est l'un des avocats les plus reconnus sur le marché parisien. Il a une excellente compréhension des dynamiques du processus de vente et de la concurrence.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Vincent Ponsonnaille est extrêmement travailleur, consciencieux et a un bon sens commercial.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Vincent Ponsonnaille est un avocat de confiance, expérimenté et attentif à ses clients.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance
    • Vincent Ponsonnaille est pragmatique et capable de proposer des solutions.
      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance
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  • Laurent Victor-Michel
    Laurent Victor-Michel

    Laurent Victor-Michel

    Laurent Victor-Michel advises domestic and international private equity firms on acquisitions and sales. He is active across the technology, healthcare and infrastructure sectors.

    Laurent Victor-Michel conseille des fonds de private equity français et internationaux dans le cadre d’acquisitions et de ventes. Il est actif dans les secteurs de la technologie, de la santé et des infrastructures.

    • Laurent Victor-Michel is a very good lawyer who is responsive, proactive and always solution-oriented.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Laurent is an exceptional adviser and a true trusted partner with deep knowledge, expertise and judgement.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Laurent Victor-Michel provides invaluable advice on how to navigate a French M&A deal to a non-French deal team.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Laurent Victor-Michel fournit des conseils précieux sur la manière de naviguer une opération M&A française à une équipe de transaction non française.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Laurent Victor-Michel est un très bon avocat qui est réactif, proactif et toujours orienté vers les solutions.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Laurent est un conseiller exceptionnel et un véritable associé de confiance, doté de connaissances approfondies, d'une grande expertise et d'un excellent jugement.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance
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  • Louis Gosset
    Louis Gosset

    Louis Gosset

    Louis Gosset maintains an increasingly prominent practice, advising clients from the technology and pharmaceutical sectors on complex cross-border private equity transactions.

    Louis Gosset maintient une pratique de plus en plus en vue, conseillant des clients des secteurs des technologies et pharmaceutiques sur des opérations complexes de private equity transfrontalières.

    • Louis has excellent commercial judgement and was truly a thought partner in a very complex negotiation.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Louis is an exceptional lawyer who is highly sophisticated and thinks through all angles. He has great commercial and legal instincts.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Louis is very responsive and was able to help us move forward on a file by being proactive and helpful in the negotiations.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Louis Gosset is a dedicated and thoughtful lawyer. He is close to the details and understands our strategic goals.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance
    • Louis Gosset est un avocat dévoué et réfléchi. Il est attentif aux détails et comprend nos objectifs stratégiques.
      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance

    • Louis a un excellent jugement commercial et a été un véritable partenaire intellectuel dans une négociation très complexe.

      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance
    • Louis est très réactif et a su nous aider à faire avancer un dossier grâce à son esprit proactif et à son aide précieuse lors des négociations.
      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance
    • Louis est un avocat exceptionnel, très perspicace et qui analyse tous les aspects d'une situation. Il possède un excellent sens des affaires et un sens juridique aigu.
      Private Equity: High-end Capability respondentFrance
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Ranked Individuals at Kirkland & Ellis (3)

France

Members

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

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