In addition to its diverse caseload and close relationships with leading private equity clients such as Bain Capital, Blackstone, and KKR, the team at Kirkland & Ellis LLP also cements its market-leading reputation with its ability to advise funds and portfolio companies on complex and market-defining deals. The team serves as a key player for high-value sponsor consolidations, impactful cross-border carve-outs and joint venture formations, and continuation fund transactions, among others. Jon Ballis boasts a longstanding record in the transactional private equity space and practices from the Chicago office together with growth investment expert Douglas Gessner. Key names in the New York office include leveraged buyout expert Jennifer Perkins, who works closely with KKR on a variety of investment transactions and portfolio deals, Peter Martelli, who is noted for his ability to guide clients through minority investments and joint ventures, and cross-border transactions specialist Srinivas Kaushik. Armand Della Monica is based in Boston and handles PE transactions in a variety of industry sectors, including logistics and life sciences, while the Los Angeles-based Jonathan Benloulou notably advises on asset manager M&A.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The most connected, smartest, most articulate, hardworking team.’

  • ‘Solution providers, creative.’

  • ‘The team I typically interact with includes Doug Gessner, Jeremy Liss, and Matt Arenson. All are incredible: Great partners, market approach to negotiation/problem solving, and collaborative approach. I would highly recommend this team.’

Key clients

  • AE Industrial Partners
  • Apax Partners
  • Ares Management
  • Bain Capital Private Equity
  • BC Partners
  • Blackstone Inc.
  • Brookfield Asset Management
  • The Carlyle Group
  • EQT Corporation
  • Francisco Partners
  • GTCR
  • KKR
  • Madison Dearborn Partners
  • Oaktree Capital Management
  • TA Associates
  • Thoma Bravo
  • Thomas H. Lee Partners
  • TPG
  • Vista Equity Partners
  • Warburg Pincus

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.
Leading lawyers
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Other key lawyers

Jon Ballis, Douglas Gessner, Jennifer Perkins, Peter Martelli, Armand Della Monica, Richard Campbell, Leo Greenberg, Srinivas Kaushik, Sanford Perl, Jonathan Benloulou, Matthew Arenson, Matthew O'Brien, Jeremy Liss, Ted Frankel, Michael Weisser