Thomas Woodhead

Partner Investment Funds
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP

London +44 20 7953 2639

Thomas Woodhead

Practices

Overview

Thomas Woodhead is a regulatory partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP.

Thomas has extensive experience in the areas of FCA regulation applying to private fund sponsors, regulatory aspects of fund structuring and advising sponsors on M&A in the financial services sector. Such experience covers all major alternative investment strategies and focuses on new industry developments and regulation.

Thomas advises top-tier sponsors including Arrow Global, Castlelake, Hg, Investindustrial, JP Morgan, Montagu Private Equity and Starwood as well as other firms associated with the private funds industry such as Gen II, Universal Investment and Waystone.

Prior to joining Kirkland, Thomas advised international banks on obtaining banking licenses in the UK and large investment brokers on conduct of business and trading compliance, including market abuse and brokerage requirements.

Representative matters at Kirkland include:

  • Advising HgCapital on the raising of each of its flagship equity and debt funds since 2019, closing over USD 25 billion.
  • Advising Waterland on the closing of EUR 4 billion dual fundraise.
  • Advising HgCapital on at the time Europe’s largest ever unitranche financing on record.
  • Advising Gen II Fund Services on the acquisition of Crestbridge.
  • Advising HgCapital on some of the ‘first of their type’ NAV facilities.
  • Advising Waystone and its private equity sponsors on the acquisition of Link Fund Solutions.
  • Advising Clayton, Dubilier & Rice on the $7 billion take-private acquisition of Focus Financial Partners.
  • Advising on a broad range of regulatory compliance matters arising in the private fund context, including conflicts of interest, financial promotions and market abuse.

Representative matters prior to joining Kirkland include:

  • Managing FCA and PRA authorizations, including applications for commercial and retail banking licenses.
  • Advising on and carrying out regulatory engagement in both contentious and non-contentious contexts.

Financial Services Authority2010–2011

Linklaters LLP

  • Solicitor (2013–2018)

Pinsent Masons LLP

  • Solicitor (2013)
  • Trainee Solicitor (2011–2013)

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Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2013, Admitted to Practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales

Education

  • College of Law, London MoorgateLegal Practice Course2009
  • Oxford Brookes UniversityGraduate Diploma in Law2007
  • Lincoln College, University of OxfordClassical Archaeology and Ancient History2006