Ken Au

Since joining Kirkland, Ken has worked on the following matters:

• Wittur group in relation to its holistic restructuring transaction, implemented on a fully consensual basis with various stakeholders
• Exiting sponsor in relation to the restructuring transaction of PlusServer, implemented by way of a UK scheme of arrangement
• Cimolai S.p.A. in relation to its UK restructuring plan, the first plan to be successfully sanctioned in parallel with a European ‘preventive restructuring’ process
• Ares Management Corporation in relation to advice on its preferred equity investment in the McLaren group
• Ad Hoc Committee of offshore noteholders in relation to a proposed restructuring of offshore bonds issued by the Fantasia group
• Ad hoc committee of first lien noteholders in relation to the successful recapitalisation of the Matalan group
• Smile Telecoms group in relation to its UK restructuring plan, the first and only plan to disenfranchise out-of-the-money creditors
• Nordic Aviation Capital group in relation to their prearranged Chapter 11 cases, the largest Chapter 11 filing in 2021
• Carlson Travel group in relation to the fastest cross-border prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring transaction to date
• Macquarie in relation with the amendment and restatement of facilities provided to the Basware group
• Permira Debt Managers in relation to the amendment and restatement of facilities provided to the Soho House group
• HPS Investment Partners in relation to its investment into the UK wealth management division of the Canaccord Genuity group

Prior to joining Kirkland, Ken worked on the following matters:

• Advised an ad hoc creditors’ committee on enforcement action in respect of the Al Jaber Group, a UAE-based conglomerate
• Advised an ad hoc creditors’ committee following cross-border insolvency proceedings in respect of the Thomas Cook Group
• Advised a sovereign pension fund on its exit options as mezzanine lender to a leading shopping centre in the UK
• Assisted a club of lenders on an RCF amendment and extension in respect of a large LSE-listed automotive retailer
• Assisted a co-ordinating committee of creditors on the cross-border debt restructuring of a global commodities broker

Allen & Overy LLP, London & Singapore

• Associate, 2019–2020
• Trainee Solicitor, 2017–2019