Kirkland & Ellis Adds Leading Real Estate Partners in New York
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that Scott A. Berger and Jonathan A. Schechter have joined the Firm as partners in the Real Estate Practice Group of the New York office. Messrs. Berger and Schechter join Kirkland from the New York office of White & Case, where Mr. Berger was the global head of White & Case's real estate practice group and Mr. Schechter was a partner. They have broad experience representing clients in a range of real estate-related transactions in the United States and around the world.
"Scott and Jonathan have a diverse practice that fits well into Kirkland's existing transactional groups, our real estate practice and our global footprint. They join a talented and in-demand group, and their experience will expand our ability to assist clients with their complex real estate transactions," said Jeffrey Hammes, Chairman of Kirkland's Global Management Executive Committee.
With the addition of Messrs. Berger and Schechter, Kirkland has added three real estate partners to its Chicago and New York offices in the last two months. Kelly Ryan joined the Firm in late April 2011.
Mr. Berger, 51, joined White & Case in 1987. He has represented equity investors, investment funds, developers, lenders and owners in deals including joint ventures, capital market transactions, financings, acquisitions, development, leasing and disposition of all types of commercial, hospitality, mixed-use, industrial and residential properties.
"We could not pass up the exciting opportunity to combine our practice with Kirkland's premiere private equity, investment funds and restructuring practices. We are excited to begin working with our new partners at Kirkland," said Mr. Berger.
Messrs. Berger and Schechter have been recognized as top real estate attorneys by the U.S. Legal 500 and PLC Which Lawyer? The U.S. Legal 500 said they were "recommended for their 'deep knowledge base, integrity, and excellent advice and guidance'."
Mr. Schechter, 37, joined White & Case in 2005 from Sullivan & Cromwell. He has advised clients on a wide range of transactions, including distressed real estate debt and equity investments. He has extensive experience representing private equity investors in connection with the formation of joint ventures and acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, financings and development of real estate and real estate-related assets and companies.
Mr. Berger is an honors graduate of Hofstra University School of Law and holds a bachelor's degree, with honors, from the University of Connecticut. Mr. Schechter is an honors graduate of the George Washington University Law School and holds a bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, from the City University of New York, Brooklyn College.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP (www.kirkland.com) is a 1,500-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex real estate, corporate/private equity and tax, restructuring, litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, and intellectual property and technology matters. The Firm has offices in New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.
