Hamesh Khatkar

Partner Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP

London +44 20 7953 2886

Hamesh Khatkar

Practices

Overview

He’s got a really good client manner, very proactive, very pragmatic and really knows his stuff.” - General Counsel (client), 2022

Hamesh is a corporate partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. He advises private equity funds and other financial sponsor clients on all types of cross border M&A matters, including public and private acquisitions and disposals, buy and sell-side auction processes, initial public offerings, minority investments, carve-outs, shareholder and co-investment matters and management equity plans.

Hamesh has regularly advised on transactions for numerous sponsors and financial institutions, including Silver Lake, GIC, BC Partners, KKR and Apax.

External Recognition

  • MergerLinks: Recognised as a “Rising Star” on UK Private Equity Transactions (2023)

Prior to and since joining Kirkland, Hamesh has advised on the following matters:

  • GIC in connection with various matters including:
    • its joint venture with Blackstone relating to Hotel Investment Partners (HIP), a leading owner of 72 resort hotels in Southern Europe totalling 21,000 keys;
    • its £694 million acquisition of a 75% stake in the majority of Paddington Central assets from British Land; and
    • the establishment of various joint ventures and acquisitions in the UK and throughout Europe.
  • A sovereign wealth fund on the acquisition of a pan-European logistics portfolio for over €3 billion from EQT Exeter.
  • Silver Lake Partners in connection with various matters including:*
    • its recommended £2.2 billion cash offer for ZPG plc, including co-investment from GIC and PSP;
      the business combination between Global Blue and Far Point Acquisition Corporation (a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) listed on the New York Stock Exchange), together with investment from and strategic partnership with Ant Financial;
    • the acquisition of Penguin Portals (including Confused.com in the UK and Rastreator.com and Le Lynx.fr in Spain and France respectively);
    • various matters in connection with the sale of a minority stake in Cegid at an enterprise value of €5.5 billion;
    • the acquisition of ZigZag Global, an eCommerce SaaS technology provider; and
    • the implementation of management equity plans, co-investor and shareholder matters, capital reorganizations, disclosure requirements and other company law and equity financing matters across its portfolio.
  • Digital 9 infrastructure plc on the sale to Ardian of 100% of Verne Global, a leading data center platform across London, Iceland and Finland.
  • Melrose Industries on its successful £8.1 billion hostile takeover offer for GKN plc.*
  • CBRE’s $1.3 billion acquisition of a 60% ownership interest in, and entry into a strategic partnership with, Turner & Townsend.*
  • EQT Infrastructure and Covanta on the Carve-Out of Covanta’s European Operations to Create Standalone Waste-to-Energy Platform.
  • Fingerpaint Marketing Inc. on the acquisition of Engage In-Health Limited, a global healthcare marketing agency.
  • BC Partners on the extension of its investment in Springer Nature, a Fund IX asset, and its transfer to a new single asset acquisition fund with over €1 billion of investment.*
  • KKR in connection with various matters including auction processes and general corporate advice.
  • Apax Partners in connection with various matters including auction processes, public-to-private transactions, fund-level financing and general corporate advice.

*Matters prior to Kirkland

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, London

  • Associate (2016–2021)

Linklaters LLP, London

  • Associate (2016)
  • Trainee Solicitor (2014–2016)

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Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2016, Admitted to practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales

Education

  • University of Law, LondonLegal Practice Course2014
  • Downing College, University of CambridgeB.A. (Hons), Law2013