Leon Daoud

Partner Debt Finance

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP

leon.daoud@kirkland.com

Practices

Overview

Leon Daoud is a debt finance partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. Leon has a broad range of debt finance experience, with a focus on advising sponsors and corporates on syndicated and direct lending transactions, leveraged acquisitions, take privates, corporate lending and general banking matters.

External Recognition

The Legal 500 UK (2025): Recognised for Acquisition Finance, where he is praised for handling “complex mandates”
The Lawyer (2025): Listed in the “Hot 100” which recognises the most daring, innovative and creative lawyers acting on current and significant matters.
IFLR1000 (2020–2024): Recognised as a “Notable Practitioner” for Banking

Experience

Advent International:

on the negotiations to acquire Kereis
on the sale of V.Group to a consortium led by STAR Capital
on the committed financing to support its acquisition of a majority shareholding in Zimmermann
and Zentiva Group on the amendment and extension of its €1.825 billion European TLB facility and €145 million revolving credit facility
on its joint venture with LANXESS and joint acquisition of DSM Engineering Materials
on its acquisition of artisanal food ingredients company IRCA and subsequent refinancings
and Cobham on the recommended £2.57 billion cash offer for Ultra Electronics PLC
on its investment in the Hermes Group businesses in the UK and Germany

Blackstone:

on its acquisition of Priority Software, a leading provider of business software
and Merlin Entertainments on multiple refinancing transactions, including several bond offerings and the amendment and extension of its revolving credit facility and cross-border TLB facilities
on its acquisition of Civica, a public sector software company
on its acquisition of the Huws Gray group and the UK merchanting businesses of the Grafton Group
on its acquisition of Bourne Leisure, a leader in the UK domestic holiday market operating through three brands: Butlin’s, Haven and Warner Leisure Hotels
on the recommended £4.77 billion cash offer for Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in location-based, family entertainment
on its acquisition of National Exhibition Centre Group, a leading live events venue operator in the UK

CPP Investments:

and Motive Partners on the $1.4 billion investment in FNZ, a global wealth management platform
on the acquisition of an additional minority stake in Visma, a leading provider of business-critical software, in a transaction valuing the business at an enterprise value of $12.2 billion

Consortium of CVC Private Equity Funds, Nordic Capital and ADIA on the £5.4 billion recommended cash acquisition of Hargreaves Lansdown

Montagu Private Equity on the acquisition of the Education Software Solutions business of Capita plc. and on the agreement to invest in ParentPay

Summit Partners:

on the acquisition and subsequent sale of Viroclinics-DDL, a virology contract research organisation, to Cerba Healthcare
on the acquisition of 18 Week Support, a service provider offering high-quality clinical support services to NHS Trusts throughout the UK
on the acquisition of City & County Healthcare Group, the largest provider of community-based home and social care services in the UK

Triton Partners:

and Ramudden Global on the amendment and extension of its senior facilities and acquisition of RSG International
on its acquisition of a majority stake in Atnahs, a specialty pharmaceutical business, and the subsequent acquisition of established hypertension medicines from AztraZeneca
on its acquisition of Sunweb Group, a leading European online travel operator

TPG:

and GIC on the financing for the agreement to acquire Techem for a total consideration of approximately €6.7 billion
on the acquisition of Aareon for €3.9 billion
on the financing aspects of its definitive agreement to purchase a majority stake in A-Gas from KKR

Trive Capital Partners on the recommended cash offer for Ten Entertainment Group

Warburg Pincus:

on the sale of its remaining stake in Reiss to NEXT plc
on the sale of Once For All to GTCR
and Inmarsat on the $7.3 billion combination with Viasat, Inc.
and Allied Universal on the financing for a recommended £3.8 billion cash offer for G4S
on the co-investment in the combined group of Tilney Smith & Williamson, a leading wealth management and professional services business
on the investment in Polyplus, a developer of innovative and cost-effective technology used in gene and cell therapy
and Apax, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan on the $3.4 billion take private of Inmarsat, a British satellite communications group
on the sale of Accelya, a leading global provider of financial, commercial and analytics solutions to the airline and travel industry, to Vista Private Equity

Freshfields LLP, London

Senior Associate, 2016–2018
Associate, 2011–2016

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

2011, Admitted to practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales

Education

BPP Law School, LondonLegal Practice Course2007
King's College LondonLL.M. (Corporate and Commercial Law)2006
Queen Mary University of LondonLL.B., Law2005

Practices

Representative Matters

Prior Experience

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

Education