James Donohue > Kirkland & Ellis LLP > Boston, United States > Lawyer Profile

Kirkland & Ellis LLP maintains a strong position in the private equity space, serving a broad client roster that spans across middle-market and smaller managers to preeminent private equity firms and global investors. The team covers private fund formation and maintenance across every asset class, appearing on behalf of both the sponsor and investor on complex fund formations, restructurings, transactions and related regulatory matters. ohn O’Neil is a preeminent name in this space and services funds of all kinds from the Chicago office. Practice co-head Erica Berthou and Andrew Wright bolster the firm’s New York office, with the former having experience in fund formation in emerging markets, next to advising on strategic private investments, while the latter has extensive experience with funds focused on industry sectors. Further key names in New York are Katrina Rowe, whose broad advisory offering encompasses buyout, credit and distressed debt funds, co-investment arrangements as well as compliance and regulatory matters and fellow co-head Daniel Lavon-Krein who is co-head of the firm’s strategic GP Advisory practice. In Chicago, Kelly Ryan and Katie St. Peters are names of note, while Nicole Washington is a key contact in Washington DC. In January 2023 John Senior joined the New York office from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, and is part of the liquidity solutions team, while in November of the same year, David Sherman rejoined the practice from Latham & Watkins LLP. In April 2024, James Donohue joined from Goodwin in Boston, while Martin Strauch joined the DC office from Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. Susan Burkhardt joined from Clifford Chance in April 2025.