Overview

Shilling has the total skill set: she has extremely high levels of intellectual capacity, legal knowledge, common sense, people skills and M&A transactional experience. - The Legal 500 United States

Monica Shilling is a transactional partner in the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She has a broad corporate and securities law practice that focuses on advising asset managers, private equity funds, and their portfolio companies on the full lifecycle of transactions. She also represents public companies, financial advisors, investment banks and issuers. She is experienced with mergers and acquisitions, capital markets offerings, leveraged buyouts, general corporate law and corporate governance, securities laws, and NYSE/Nasdaq compliance.

Monica’s practice also has a particular focus involving specialty finance enterprises. She advises companies on the establishment of business development companies (BDCs) and other private and public equity vehicles. Monica is among a relatively limited number of attorneys in the country who actively represent BDCs. She also advises clients on special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) transactions, including IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and business combinations.

Monica has been consistently recognized in Chambers USA and The Legal 500 since 2010. In the 2021 edition of Chambers USA, clients commented that "She is my go-to lawyer for strategic advice and I really rely on her opinion." "She is very responsive, very practical and very thorough." According to The Legal 500 United States, one client stated that Monica is “one of the three or four best transactional lawyers with whom I have ever worked. Shilling has the total skill set: she has extremely high levels of intellectual capacity, legal knowledge, common sense, people skills and M&A transactional experience.”

The Los Angeles Business Journal awarded Monica “Corporate Attorney of the Year” as part of their annual “Leaders in Law” series in 2021 and as one of the “Top Women Attorneys in Los Angeles” since 2020. In 2020, the Daily Journal recognized Monica as one of the “Top Women Lawyers” in California.

Monica is a frequent speaker at industry events including LACBA’s Annual Securities Regulation Seminar, the Women’s Private Equity Summit and the Harvard Association for Law and Business Women’s Leadership Series.

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Thought Leadership

Seminars

Moderator, “Emerging Trends in Mergers and Acquisitions” Panel, LACBA 53rd Annual Securities Regulation Seminar, October 29, 2021 

Panelist, "How Can Women Succeed at Corporate Law Firms?" Harvard Association for Law and Business, Women’s Leadership Series Panel, October 2, 2020 (Webinar)

Recognition

Chambers Global: Capital Markets: Debt & Equity: Western United States, 2020–2024

Chambers USA: Western US: Capital Markets: Debt & Equity, 2020–2023

Chambers USA: California: Capital Markets: Debt & Equity, 2014–2019, 2021–2023

Chambers USA: Southern California: Corporate/M&A, 2010–2017

Chambers USA: California: Corporate/M&A: Private Equity, 2013–2018

Chambers USA: Women in Law Awards: Up & Coming Corporate/M&A Lawyer of the Year, 2012

Top Women Lawyers, Daily Journal, 2011, 2014, 2020

“Leaders of Influence: Private Equity, Investors & Advisors,” Los Angeles Business Journal, 2022

“Corporate Attorney of the Year,” Los Angeles Business Journal, 2021

“Women of Influence: Attorneys,” Los Angeles Business Journal, 2020–2023

“Who's Who in LA Law,” Los Angeles Business Journal, 2011

One of five finalists for “Philanthropist of the Year,” Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2015 Women Making a Difference Awards

The Legal 500 United States: Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt Offerings, 2010–2011, 2013, 2021–2023

The Legal 500 United States: Finance: Capital Markets: Equity Offerings, 2010–2015

The Legal 500 United States: Mergers & Acquisitions: National Firms: Large Deals, 2010–2014, 2019

The Legal 500 United States: Mergers & Acquisitions and Buyouts: Private Equity Buyouts, 2009–2020

The Legal 500 United States: Capital Markets: Debt Offerings, 2013–2014, 2016–2020

The Legal 500 United States: Capital Markets: Equity Offerings, 2018–2019

The Legal 500 United States: Investment Fund Formation and Management – REITS, 2013

Southern California Super Lawyers, 2014–2015

Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2006–2008

Memberships & Affiliations

Fellow, American Bar Foundation (inducted 2021) 

Chair, Board of Directors, KCRW Foundation

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 1995California

Languages

  • English
  • French

Education

  • Georgetown University Law CenterJ.D.magna cum laude1995
    Order of the Coif
  • University of Redlands, Johnston Center for Integrative StudiesB.A.1992
    Phi Beta Kappa