Hall of fameKirkland & Ellis LLP
Ian Barratt is a debt finance partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. Ian's practice focuses on domestic and cross-border acquisition financing and other leveraged finance transactions.
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
Under the leadership of the ‘vastly experienced and talented’ Stephen Lucas, Kirkland & Ellis International LLP has firmly positioned itself at the pinnacle of the leveraged finance market for an entirely sponsor-focused client base. Unencumbered by any banking ties, the team has been able to ’push very aggressively’ on behalf of its borrower clients, enabling them to access pools of capital in spite of the periodic closures of the syndicated loan market. Christopher Shield is the lead relationship partner with a number of the largest and most active sponsors in the market, including Bain Capital and Advent, advising both on a raft of cross-border LBOs, as well as in relation to liability management issues. English and New York-law qualified partner Evgeny Zborovsky‘s broad practice covers both mid and large-ticket mandates, with his dual qualifications adding an enhanced level of versatility and a deeper understanding of the implementation of US terms in the European market. Other recommended partners include the ’proactive and extremely professional’ Kirsteen Nicol, whose experience includes significant knowledge of syndicated and credit fund lending; Daniel Borg, whose cross-border expertise includes large take-private mandates, LBOs and bolt-on acquisitions; and James Boswell, for acquisition infrastructure finance matters. Neel Sachdev left to launch the English law practice at Paul Weiss in summer 2023 alongside partners including fellow banking specialist Kanesh Balasubramaniam.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'They push very aggressively on terms for their clients.'
- 'Stephen Lucas is vastly experienced and talented.'
- 'Kirsteen Nicol is proactive, independent and extremely professional.'
Key clients
- Accel-KKR
- Advent International
- Antin Infrastructure Partners
- Apax Partners
- Bain Capital
- BC Partners
- Blackstone Inc.
- CapVest Partners
- Cinven
- CVC Capital Partners
- Groupe Bruxelles Lambert
- Hg
- Lone Star Funds (Hudson Advisors)
- Partners Group
- SK Capital
- Summit Partners
- TA Associates
- Thoma Bravo
- Vitruvian Partners
Work highlights
- Advised Accel-KKR and its consortium partners on the financing for the Finnish take private of Basware Corporation by way of a voluntary recommended public cash tender offer. This deal was one of the first P2Ps in Finland to be funded with private debt.
- Advised Thoma Bravo on the financing for the Norwegian take private of Mercell Holding by way of a voluntary cash offer. The financing comprised a Unitranche and Super Senior RCF. This deal is a further example of Kirkland’s acquisition finance expertise in the Nordic take private market and underscores our cross-border credentials.
- Advised Groupe Bruxelles Lambert on the financing for the acquisition of Affidea. The financing comprised a TLB and RCF.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Hall of fameKirkland & Ellis LLP
Stephen is a finance partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. He has worked in the debt markets for over 25 years, advising on leveraged and other structured finance including recaps, bank/bond financings, distressed financings, margin loans, ABLs and other asset-backed financings.
Leading individuals
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Dan Borg is a partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. His practice primarily focuses on advising private equity sponsors across a wide range of complex and multijurisdictional financing transactions, including leveraged finance, public and private holdco financings and restructurings.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
James Boswell is a debt finance partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. He advises financial sponsors and borrowers on a wide range of complex financing transactions across the energy and infrastructure sector.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Kirsteen Nicol is a banking partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. Her practice is primarily focused on representing sponsors and portfolio companies on complex, cross border leveraged financings. Kirsteen has a broad range of banking and debt finance experience, including syndicated and credit fund lending, leveraged acquisitions, take private transactions across Europe, corporate lending and general banking.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Sinead O’Shea is a debt finance partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. She has deep experience with a broad range of senior and subordinated financing structures, with an emphasis on infrastructure finance, leveraged acquisition finance, public to private transactions, capex roll-out facilities and syndicated corporate facilities.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Christopher Shield is a partner in the banking and finance department of the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. Christopher has banking and debt finance experience including domestic and cross-border syndicated lending, leverage acquisitions, investment grade lending and general banking.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Evgeny Zborovsky is a partner in the debt finance team in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. His practice focuses on advising private equity sponsors, portfolio companies and credit funds on cross border leveraged buyouts and other complex financing transactions.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Stephen Lucas