Mr Jesse Sheley > Kirkland & Ellis > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Lawyer Profile

Highly regarded for its expert handling of cross-border SPAC and de-SPAC transactions, in conjunction with a strong corporate finance offering, the Kirkland & Ellis International LLP team is renowned for its ‘responsiveness’ and ‘professionalism’. The firm regularly advises on major take-private transactions and sales of shares, with the duo of Joey Chau and Brian Ho spearheading the practice from Hong Kong. Mengyu Lu is knowledgeable on multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions, while Jesse Sheley and Peng Yu predominantly concentrate on the TMT and life sciences spaces. All lawyers mentioned are Hong Kong-based.

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP‘s ‘top-notch’ China private equity practice has an enviable market reputation for high-end private equity transactions. The practice acts across the full spectrum of private equity work, including buyouts, SPAC transactions and take-privates. It also fields experts in growth capital, joint ventures and disposals. The team is co-led from Hong Kong by Jesse Sheley, an expert in major investments, acquisitions, LBOs and SPACs; and Peng Yu, who ‘has a great problem-solving mindset’ and is experienced in LBOs, take-privates, PIPEs, and growth capital investments. The group further includes high-regarded private equity specialist Gary Li; and Pierre-Luc Arsenault, an adviser on LBOs, minority investments, joint ventures, and special situations-related private equity deals.

Kirkland & Ellis houses a ‘capable and diligent‘ practice which is well-equipped to handle exits and acquisitions for special purpose acquisition companies (SPAC), investor and buyer consortiums, and investment firms. Jesse Sheley and Peng Yu jointly head the practice. Sheley is well-known for his deep knowledge of leveraged buyouts (LBO) and M&A, while Yu’s workload consists of a variety of cross-border transactional issues, including growth capital investment mandates. Gary Li is noted for his broad, longstanding expertise, often advising on high-value take-privates and equity investments. Pierre-Luc Arsenault is a key name within the team for joint venture and recapitlisation-related matters.

Joey Chau jointly leads the team at Kirkland & Ellis alongside Brian Ho; the group is known for its vast experience in advising on the full gamut of corporate mattes, including spin-offs, privatisations, and convertible offering-related mandates. Praised by clients for her ‘exceptional ability to think creatively‘, Chau is noted for her strong specialism in public M&A and take-private transactions. Ho is an expert in corporate finance work, particularly in relation to de-SPACs. Jesse Sheley is a key contact for SPAC clients within the tech and financial services sectors, while Peng Yu is recommended for his broad knowledge of the TMT and life sciences sectors, often advising on joint ventures and investments. Nicholas Norris left the firm in January 2024.