Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
Client SatisfactionKirkland & Ellis International LLP’ restructuring team is considered ‘market leaders’ with its contentious and non-contentious restructuring work for companies, banks, and bondholders. The team advises its expanding list of high-profile clients on various restructuring issues such as debt rescheduling and refinancings, receiverships and liquidations, and shareholder disputes. Neil McDonald, who heads the team, advises both domestic and international troubled clients on the full range of issues including advising ’The Committee’ in respect of aspects of offshore notes issued by Evergrande Group. Other key members include Wei Yang Lim who is considered a ‘stand out lawyer’ for high-profile equity sponsors and regularly advises sponsor portfolio companies with restructurings and distressed investments while Fergus Saurin offers a broad range of expertise including handling complex commercial and insolvency-related disputes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'They are without doubt the market leaders offering best-in-class advice and seamless deal execution. their client is always first and they are second to none in terms of thought leadership and structuring innovation.'
- 'Wei Yang Lim is the stand out lawyer who has earned his seat at the regional high table of restructuring. He is sharp as a razor blade, full of integrity and with an unswerving work ethic that is committed to his client's best interests.'
Key clients
- Babel Finance
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the offshore notes issued by China Evergrande Group or its subsidiaries.
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the offshore notes issued by Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the offshore notes and perpetual securities issued by CIFI Holdings (Group) Co. Ltd.
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the offshore notes issued or guaranteed by Yuzhou Group Holdings Company Limited
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the offshore notes issued by Fantasia Holdings Group Co., Limited
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the offshore notes issued by Huachen Energy Co., Ltd.
- Sapura Energy Berhad and its subsidiaries
- iQIYI Inc.
- Ad hoc committee of holders of certain tranches of bonds including US$350,000,000 5.25% guaranteed bonds due 2018 issued by certain subsidiary of China Energy Reserve and Chemicals Group Company Ltd.
- Noble Group
- Ad-hoc committee of holders of multiple tranches of offshore notes issued by Redsun Properties Group Limited
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the offshore notes issued by Modern Land (China) Co., Limited
- Wing Sze Tiffany Wong, Edward Simon Middleton and Wesley Arthur Edwards, liquidators of Nuoxi Capital Limited (a subsidiary of Peking University Founder Group Company Limited)
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the US$450,000,000 6% notes due 2020 issued by Unigroup International Holdings Ltd. and guaranteed by Tsinghua Unigroup International Co., Ltd. with benefit of a keepwell deed provided by Tsinghua Unigroup Co. Ltd.
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the offshore notes issued by Golden Wheel Tiandi Holdings Company Limited
- Eqonex Limited
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the US$275,000,000 9.875% Senior Notes due 2022 issued by Hong Seng Limited
- Noteholders of GTI Statia Holdings N.V.
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the offshore notes issued by certain subsidiary of Reward Science and Technology Industry Group Co., Ltd.
- Ad hoc group of lenders under a c. US$ 435 million dual tranche multi-currency term loan facility borrowed by certain subsidiaries of Goldin Financial Holdings Limited and guaranteed by the Listco and Mr Pan Sutong
- Bain Capital Special Situations
- Liquidators of Polestar Automotive Holding Limited
Work highlights
- Acting as international counsel for Babel Finance in connection with a proposed restructuring. The Restructuring is expected to be implemented through a scheme of arrangement in Singapore.
- Advising the Committee in connection with transactions (including a potential restructuring and/or enforcement actions) concerning the Offshore Notes. Evergrande is one of the world’s most indebted real estate developers with more than US$300 billion liabilities.
- Advising the Committee in relation to the Offshore Debt, including but not limited to a potential restructuring of such Offshore Debt. Kaisa is the second-largest US dollar bond issuer among Chinese property developers with over US$12 billion of offshore debt.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Wei Yang Lim
Kirkland & EllisPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Neil McDonald