Overview

Chris Kallos is internationally recognized as a leading private equity attorney, with over 25 years of experience and a specialty in private equity firm management and fund formation. He is recommended as a “strategic thinker” and “problem solver” who is “really commercially minded” (Chambers USA), and has been described as a “private equity guru” (Who’s Who Legal).

As a leader of Kirkland’s Investment Funds Group, Chris has been instrumental in developing Kirkland’s industry-leading global practice over the last 25+ years. In addition, he regularly oversees M&A, financing, restructuring, litigation, securities, intellectual property, tax and estate planning matters for a wide-range of public and private clients.

In recommending Chris as an “exceptional” practitioner, clients praised his “excellent business judgment and responsiveness” — noting that “he really cuts through to the problem and finds a solution,” providing “tailored advice for all situations” (The Legal 500 U.S.; Chambers USA).

Chris leads fund matters for large and middle-market buyout, growth equity, debt, secondary, venture, technology, real estate and other funds. These matters range from fund formations to team spin-outs, fund restructurings, SPAC sponsorships, minority stake investments in fund management companies, succession planning, key person events, conflicts resolution, co-investments, secondary transactions and internal manager operations.

Representative clients include leading national and international private equity sponsors, such as AEA Investors, Arsenal Capital, Comvest Partners, Equity Group Investments, Equity International, Graham Partners, Hammond, Kennedy, Whitney & Co., HCI Equity Partners, Madison Dearborn Partners, Sorenson Capital, Valor Equity Partners, Versa Capital Partners, Vestar Capital Partners, and Corner Ventures, in addition to select limited partners, family offices and public companies.

Outside of his client work, Chris lectures as an Associate Fellow at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, where he also works with the school’s Private Equity Institute, and he serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce. Chris is regularly sought out as a speaker and panel moderator in the U.S. and internationally on private equity topics.

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Thought Leadership

Seminars

Speaker, Private Equity: What's New For '22, Oxford University Webinar (2022) 

Lecturer, Saïd Business School’s Private Equity Programme, Oxford University, Oxford (2017–Present)

Lecturer, Saïd Business School’s Oxford Chicago Valuation Programme, Oxford University, Oxford (2018–2019)

Speaker, Private Equity’s Roaring 20s: A Peak Around the Corner, Oxford University Webinar (2020)

Speaker, Private Equity: The Forces Moving Markets, Oxford University Webinar (2019)

Speaker, UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce, Charlottesville (2014, 2019–2021)

Speaker, Private Equity Vision 2020, Oxford University Webinar (2018)

Speaker, Recent Private Equity Developments, Oxford University Webinar (2017)

Speaker, Strafford’s Private Equity Waterfall and Carried Interest Provisions: Economic and Tax Implications for Investors and Sponsors, Webinar (2015–2017)

Speaker, IBA’s International Conference on Private Investment Funds, London (2009, 2015)

Speaker, Maples Investment Funds Forum, Grand Cayman (2014, 2015)

Speaker, Private Equity Financial Management Summit, New York (2008)

Advisory Board, Private Equity Compliance Forum, New York (2007)

Speaker, Illinois Venture Capital Association CFO Summit, Chicago (2006)

Co-Chairperson and Moderator, Private Equity Summit 2004 “Fund Formation & Emerging Investment Opportunities,” New York (2004)

Recognition

Listed in Chambers Global, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (2010–2024)

Listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2009–2024)

Listed in IFLR1000: The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms (2010–2024)

Listed in Who’s Who Legal  The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers – Private Funds (2006–2017, 2020–2022) 

Listed in The Legal 500 U.S. for Investment Fund Formation and Management: Private Equity Funds (2007, 2009, 2013–2015, 2017, 2020)

Named a Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers (2008)

Memberships & Affiliations

Associate Fellow - Oxford University Saïd Business School (2017–Present)

Adjunct Professor of Law, Northwestern University School of Law “Structuring Transactions: Private Equity Funds & Transactions” (2005)

Advisory Board Member - University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 1994, Illinois
  • 1991, Certified Public Accountant, New York (inactive)

Education

  • Harvard Law SchoolJ.D.cum laude1994
  • University of Virginia, McIntire School of CommerceB.S., Accountingwith Distinction1989