David Higgins

Partner Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP

david.higgins@kirkland.com

London T +44 20 7469 2200

M +44 77 4173 0100

Practices

Overview

David is extremely hard-working, responsive and commercial.” - Chambers UK, 2025

David is a partner in Kirkland’s corporate practice and a member of the Firm's Executive 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 (2025): Listed as an “Eminent Practitioner” for Private Equity; Buyouts
The Legal 500 UK (2025): Listed in the “Hall of Fame” for Private equity: transactions – high value deals
IFLR1000 UK (2023): Listed as a “Market Leader” for Private Equity; Mergers & Acquisitions
Private Equity News (2024): Listed as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Private Equity Lawyers”
Financial News and Private Equity News (2024, 2022): Listed in the “Most Influential Lawyers” list
Financial News and Private Equity News (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022): Named as one of “Europe’s 50 Most Influential People in Private Equity”

Experience

David Gandler on the acquisition of a majority stake in Leyton Orient

GTCR on the acquisition of JMG Group

CPP Investments on the minority investment in EQT-backed IFS

Hellman & Friedman on its investment in Mehiläinen

Partners Group on the sale of Global Blue to Shift4

Thoma Bravo-backed Darktrace on the acquisition of Cado Security

GIC on the investment in Synthon

CPP Investments on the acquisition of a minority stake in Regnology

Apollo and Oaktree-backed ABC Technologies on the take-private of TI Fluid Systems

Apollo-backed The Restaurant Group in its acquisition of its outstanding stake in the Wagamama from Conversion Venture Capital

FundRock on the acquisition of Nikko Asset Management Luxembourg

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

Apex Group on the acquisition of GAM’s Management Company activities

EP Group on its possible offer for International Distribution Services

Lyra Bidco on the acquisition of Hipgnosis

Apollo on its recommended all-cash acquisition of The Restaurant Group

Hipgnosis Songs Capital on its proposed acquisition of 29 music catalogs from SONG

TE Connectivity on the securities regulation aspects in relation to the all-cash public tender offer for Schaffner Holding AG

Nordic Capital on the sale of Bladt Industries to CS Wind

Apex Group on the acquisition of various operating businesses of MJ Hudson Group plc

Apex Group on the acquisition of Efficient Group

Hipgnosis Song Management on the acquisition of Justin Bieber’s catalog

Iconic Sports on its investment in Eagle Football

Ares Acquisition on the proposed business combination with X-energy

Francisco Partners on its acquisition of Kobalt

GIC on its investment in Unither

Oakley Fund IV on the sale of a majority stake in Contabo to KKR

Apex Fund Management:

on the acquisition of the Maitland fund services business
on the acquisition of the FundRock Group

Nordic Capital:

on the sale of Sunrise Medical to Platinum Equity
on a joint venture with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board to invest in Advanz Pharma
on the acquisition of ActiveViam
on the acquisition of Ascot Lloyd
on the equity and co-investment aspects of its recommended cash offer for Advanz Pharma
and other stakeholders on the partial sale and co-investment in eResearchTechnology, Inc.

Thoma Bravo:

on the acquisition of Darktrace Private
on its acquisition of a majority stake in Hypergene
and its portfolio company J.D. Power on its investment in AutoVista
and its portfolio company SailPoint on its take private of Osirium Technologies plc
and its portfolio company Veriforce on the acquisition of CHAS
on its strategic growth investment in Circle Cardiovascular Imaging
on the strategic investment in Condeco
on the £3.1 billion recommended cash offer for Sophos

Partners Group on the acquisition of Forterro

CPP Investments:

and Warburg Pincus on the minority investments in Visma
on the acquisition of a stake in Universal Investment
and Motive Partners on the $1.4 billion investment in FNZ
in connection with Sportradar’s IPO
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

GIC on the acquisition of an additional stake in Belron

BC Partners:

on the sale of IMA Group to BDT & MSD Partners
on the sale of Elysium Healthcare
on the extension of their investment in Springer Nature, a Fund IX asset
on the sale of CeramTec
on the sale of Pharmathen to Partners Group
on the acquisition of a significant stake in Valtech
on its acquisition of Keesing from Ergon Capital and Mediahuis
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

Array Technologies on the acquisition of STI Norland

Blackstone:

on the revised recommended cash acquisition of Hipgnosis
backed Hipgnosis Song Management on the acquisition of Justin Timberlake’s entire catalogue of more than 200 songs
backed next generation media company on the acquisition of Moonbug Entertainment Ltd
on its $1 billion partnership with Hipgnosis Song Management
on the acquisition of a majority stake in VFS Global
on a combined $800 million investment in the combination of APi Group Corp. and Chubb Fire & Security Business
and Brown Bidco Limited on the $4.73 billion recommended take private of Signature Aviation
on the £4.77 billion recommended cash offer for Merlin Entertainments plc
on the acquisition of Murka
on its bid for Sportradar from EQT

Antin Infrastructure Partners:

on the acquisition of Consilium Safety Group
on the acquisition of Wildstone
on CityFibre’s £1.125 billion capital raise
on its reinvestment in Eurofiber, including the sale of a minority stake to PGGM

Apex on the c. £1.51 billion recommended all cash acquisition of Sanne Group plc

Crystal Almond Holdings Limited on the sale of Wind Hellas to United Group

GIC on its investment to acquire an aggregate shareholding in Belron

Sun European Partners on the sale of Dreams to Tempur Sealy International

Alpine Investors and its portfolio company Alpine Software Group on the acquisition of Sendible

L Catterton on its agreement to acquire a majority stake in BIRKENSTOCK Group

Peak Rock Capital on its acquisition of AMB S.p.A

The Carlyle Group:

on the sale of Jagex to CVC and Haveli Investments
on its acquisition of Jagex
on the $500 million acquisition of EnerMech Group from Lime Rock

Rhône Capital:

on its acquisition of a minority stake in illycaffè
on its acquisition of a stake in Maxam from Advent

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

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

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

Francisco Partners in the DKK3.7 billion acquisition of EG

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

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)

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

Practices

Representative Matters

Prior Experience

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

Education