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. The funds group is well versed in raising buyout funds and complex funds of funds or infrastructure funds, as well as large secondary transactions. The firm represents a large number of the leading European asset managers and private equity sponsors. The funds practice is complemented by tax, regulatory, securities and ERISA expertise at the firm. The team 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's real estate funds capabilities has enjoyed notable growth within recent years.

Work Highlights

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis
  • Kirkland & Ellis advised Nordic Capital on the raising of Fund XI 2022. The fund closed at EUR9 billion.

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 is a funds rockstar. I've never come across a lawyer as strong as he is; there is no brighter mind within the legal community."

"Anand is commercially and technically brilliant."

"Anand is an exceptional lawyer with a strong command on his area of expertise and beyond. He has a great ability to break down complex legal matters into simple language that is easy to digest for clients. His ability to research and find solutions to complex legal matters is second to none."

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 Watkins is very composed and easy-going. His market knowledge is the best."

"Our go-to for any difficult or complex question we need advice on. Richard has an excellent way of looking at problems, often suggesting solutions that others have not considered. He is also an excellent all-rounder with knowledge of the whole gamut of funds work."

"A pre-eminent funds lawyer in London."

Andrew Shore
2
Andrew Shore
2
Band 2

Andrew Shore has a flourishing practice advising private equity sponsors on fund-raisings and secondary transactions. He also works with those clients on co-investment and carried interest.

"A superstar in the funds space."

"Andrew is a fantastic fantastic lawyer. Extremely detail-oriented. He knows his stuff: he can cite any LPA provision off the top of his head. With Andrew, you couldn't have a more responsive lawyer on the case."

"Andy is superb. Really sharp, very strong technically and super responsive. He has extensive experience across all transaction types and provides clear, articulate and commercial advice. He's able to handle whatever clients throw at him."

Christopher Braunack
3
Christopher Braunack
3
Band 3

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.

"Clients love Christopher."

"It is a great pleasure to work with Chris; he know everything related to fundraising."

"He's very commercial, very pragmatic, and gives good advice."

Aleksander Bakic
4
Aleksander Bakic
4
Band 4

Aleksander Bakic stands out for his secondaries market expertise. He counsels clients on matters such as fund restructures and spin-outs.

"Aleksander has an excellent knowledge of the market and is able to apply that knowledge to novel circumstances clients face. He is a great communicator and provides excellent commercial advice."

"A commercial lawyer who is well liked by his clients."

"Aleksander is a very talented lawyer that is highly accomplished within the funds space. He provides great client service, has a wealth of experience, and is very driven."

4
Alex Amos
4
Band 4

Alex Amos is noted for his work in private equity and credit fund formations for leading European managers. He also assists clients with matters relating to secondary market transactions.

Amala Ejikeme
4
Amala Ejikeme
4
Band 4

Amala Ejikeme is a rising star in the investment funds world. He regularly advises European sponsor clients on high-value fundraisings.

"Amala is a good counterpart. He advocates for his clients well."

"Amala is a rockstar when it comes to intersection of commercial and technical legal matters."

"He's extremely intelligent, knows his stuff very well, and is creative and constructive. He has great communication skills and is a great negotiator. Great at cutting through the complexity and ironing out what the core pieces are and being able to present them in a meaningful way."

4
Jonathan Tadd
4
Band 4

Jonathan Tadd is co-head of the real estate funds group within the firm and advises GP-side clients on the formation, operation and closing out of both domestic and international funds.

"Jonathan has incredible market insight. He knows everything there is to know in the European funds market and how it works. He's extremely skilled."

"Jonathan is a leader in private equity fund and recapitalisation structures."

"A true industry leader in the real estate funds space. He's generous with his time and considered a trusted adviser to our business across the board."

U
Amy Fox
U
Up and Coming

Up-and-coming partner Amy Fox represents major players in the European private equity funds space. She has experience of advising clients on regulatory compliance and large-cap fund launches.

"Amy is extremely detail-oriented, analytic in approach, and very responsive."

"Amy is forceful: she makes things happen. She is process-driven, picking up all the points, whilst also very strong technically. She is clearly an up-and-coming lawyer who has a very bright future ahead of her."

"An outstanding technical lawyer. She's an up-and-comer, for sure."

U
Louisa Cobbe
U
Up and Coming

Louisa Cobbe frequently advises real estate and infrastructure funds on fundraisings and structuring. She also has notable experience representing investors.

"Louisa is super responsive and attentive to clients' needs."

"Louisa really gets the technical details of fund structuring and is very commercial and very approachable."

Ranked Lawyers at
Kirkland & Ellis

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

UK

Investment Funds: Private Equity

1
Anand Damodaran
1
Band 1
Richard Watkins
1
Richard Watkins
1
Band 1
Andrew Shore
2
Andrew Shore
2
Band 2
Christopher Braunack
3
Christopher Braunack
3
Band 3
Aleksander Bakic
4
Aleksander Bakic
4
Band 4
4
Alex Amos
4
Band 4
Amala Ejikeme
4
Amala Ejikeme
4
Band 4
U
Amy Fox
U
Up and Coming
Investment Funds: Real Estate

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