David Higgins

Partner Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP

London T +44 20 7469 2200

M +44 77 4173 0100

David Higgins

Practices

Overview

I have worked with David on multiple transactions since 2014 and he really stands out from the rest of the industry in terms of breadth and depth of knowledge, quality of advice and calmness under pressure. - The Legal 500 UK, 2020

David is a partner in Kirkland’s corporate practice and a member of the global firm management committee. He advises private equity funds and other financial investor clients on all types of cross border leveraged M&A including public and private acquisitions, carve-outs, take privates, consortium deals, distressed acquisitions and disposals.

David regularly acts for BC Partners, Blackstone, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Cinven, GIC (Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund), Hellman & Friedman, Partners Group and The Carlyle Group.

External Recognition

  • Chambers UK: Band 1 for UK-wide Private Equity: Buyouts where he is recognised as “a formidable presence in the market, with enviable expertise in headline private equity deals”
  • Legal 500 Private equity: transaction – high value deals: Listed as a “Leading Individual”
  • Financial News and Private Equity News: Named as one of “Europe’s 50 Most Influential People in Private Equity” (2019)

GTCR and Corza Health on the acquisition of TachoSil® Fibrin Sealant Patch from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

CPP Investments:

  • on its investment in Visma and the subsequent acquisitions of two additional minority stakes
  • and its consortium partners on the acquisition of Galileo Global Education

BC Partners:

  • on its investment in IMA 
  • on its investment in Advanced
  • and its portfolio company, United Group, on the acquisition of Tele2 Croatia from Tele2 Group
  • on its €2bn acquisition of a majority stake in United Group from KKR

Metaswitch Networks, a portfolio company of Francisco Partners, on its sale to Microsoft Corporation

CPP Investments and its consortium partners on the acquisition of Galileo Global Education

The bidding consortium led by Advent, Cinven and the RAG-Stiftung on the acquisition of the elevator division of thyssenkrupp AG

Nordic Capital and other stakeholders in the partial sale and co-investment in eResearchTechnology, Inc.

Thoma Bravo on the £3.1 billion recommended cash offer for Sophos

The consortium consisting of Apax, Warburg Pincus, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan on the $3.4 billion take private of Inmarsat

Blackstone:

  • on the £4.77 billion recommended cash offer for Merlin Entertainments plc
  • on the acquisition of Murka
  • on its bid for Sportradar from EQT

Francisco Partners in the DKK3.7 billion acquisition of EG

The Carlyle Group on the $500 million acquisition of EnerMech Group from Lime Rock

Corsair Capital, as part of a consortium, on the £3.182 billion acquisition of a 59.2% stake in Itinere Infraestructuras

Rowan Companies plc in its US$12 billion combination with Ensco plc in an all-stock transaction

Rhône Capital on its acquisition of a stake in Maxam from Advent

Pamplona Capital Management on the sale of Partner in Pet Food to Cinven

Hellman & Friedman on its c.US$6 billion bid to acquire claims manager Sedgwick from KKR

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, London

  • Partner (2001–2018)

  • Co-head of the Global Financial Investors sector group (2010–2016)

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Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 1994, Admitted to Practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales

Education

  • The University of Law, ChesterLaw Society Finals1991
  • Exeter UniversityLL.B.Hons1990