Overview

Jennifer Perkins is a corporate partner in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Jennifer represents clients in complex domestic and cross-border acquisitions and dispositions and has extensive experience representing private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in leveraged buyouts and other private equity investment transactions in a broad range of industries. Jennifer also advises clients on structuring, negotiating and executing minority investments in private equity and other asset management firms.

Jennifer was recognized for her work in the 2022 edition of Chambers Global and the 2021–2022 editions of Chambers USA where clients noted, "She does an excellent job distilling complex issues into easy-to-understand language. She has a great nose for negotiations and seems to have a great sense for where to press and how." Jennifer was named among the “Top Women in Dealmaking” for 2023 by The Deal. Additionally, she was recognized in The Legal 500 in 2022, IFLR1000 in 2018–2019 and 2021–2022, Euromoney Legal Media Group Americas Women in Business Law Awards in 2019 and Law360 in 2016. Jennifer was named a “Crisis Leadership Trailblazer” by the National Law Journal in 2020 and previously received the “40 Under 40 Leading M&A” award from the M&A Advisor.

Jennifer serves on the board of DOROT, a nonprofit social service organization providing a wide range of services for seniors and the board of directors of New Alternatives for Children, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance for children with special healthcare needs and their families.

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Thought Leadership

Seminars

Moderator, "Driving Employee Ownership in Portfolio Companies," Women's Private Capital Summit, November 17, 2022

Moderator, "Private Equity Panel," Wharton Women in Investing Inaugural Conference, February 11, 2022

Panelist, “Private Company M&A: An Exploration of Current Hot Spots and Special Issues,” 41st Annual Securities Regulation Institute, January 27, 2014

Moderator, 10th Annual Women’s Alternative Investment Summit.

Recognition

Recognized as one of the "Top Women in Dealmaking" by The Deal, 2023

Recognized in Chambers Global, Private Equity: Buyouts (USA), 2022

Recognized in Chambers USA, Private Equity: Buyouts (New York), 2021–2022

Recognized in The Legal 500 United States

“Crisis Leadership Trailblazer,” The National Law Journal, 2020

“Best in Private Equity” Euromoney Legal Media Group Americas Women in Business Law Awards, 2019

Recognized in IFLR1000 “Women Leaders,” 2018–2019, 2021–2022

“Highly Regarded” in the IFLR1000 guide, 2018–2021

“40 Under 40 Leading M&A” award, The M&A Advisor

“Private Equity MVP” Law360, 2015

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 1998New York

Education

  • Cornell Law SchoolJ.D.cum laude1997
  • Binghamton University, State University of New YorkB.A.1994

    Phi Beta Kappa