Overview

incredibly talented and excellent to work with . . . the person I turn to when I have a tough issue.” - Chambers USA, 2021

Michael Woronoff is a transactional partner in the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He represents clients in their most sophisticated public and private M&A transactions, debt and equity financings, in- and out-of-court restructurings, and other corporate and securities law matters, including SEC reporting obligations, corporate governance and strategic alliances.

Chambers has described Michael as “pragmatic and results oriented” and “100% focused on providing exceptional service,” and reports clients describe him as “amazing,” and “incredibly sharp, immediately intuitive and a great problem solver.” A client interviewed by The Legal 500 referred to him as “literally one of the best attorneys with whom I have ever worked.” Lawdragon has noted that “there are few deals Woronoff can’t do.”

The Daily Journal named him nine times as one of the top 100 lawyers in California. Lexology twice gave him its M&A (California) Client Choice Award. In 2019, the Los Angeles Business Journal named him one of the “Most Influential Private Equity Advisors.” BestLawyers recognized him as the 2025 M&A (Los Angeles) “Lawyer of the Year.”

Michael is a member of the board of directors of Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE: ARE), which owns, operates and develops life science and technology campuses. He has also served on the boards of directors of several private companies, including AccessDNA, TransDimension and u-Nav Microelectronics. Earlier in his career, Michael was a founding principal of Shelter Capital Partners, a private equity fund that invested in technology and technology-enabled businesses at all stages of development.

Michael serves on the Board of Trustees of Commentary Magazine, Board of Governors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Board of Trustees (and Chair of the Finance Committee) of the Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Foundation, the Dean’s Advisory Council of the Daniels School of Business at Purdue University and the advisory board of the innovative Purdue Global Law School (the nation’s first fully online law school). He is also an adjunct at the UCLA School of Law, where he developed and teaches the popular course “Venture Capital and the Start-up Company.”

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Thought Leadership

Publications

Author, “Capitalism—Now More Than Ever,” Commentary Magazine, 2024

Author, “Put a Stake in Stakeholder Capitalism,” Commentary Magazine, 2023

Co-Author, “Regulatory Shockwaves Threaten Silicon Valley – When Private Investments Become Public Problems,” Financier Worldwide, 2016

Co-Author, “Effective vs. Nominal Valuations in Venture Capital Investing,” NYU Journal of Law and Business, 2005

Co-Author, “Understanding Anti-Dilution Provisions in Convertible Securities,” Fordham Law Review, 2005

Author, “Using a Venture Capital Class to Teach Transactional Skills,” Tennessee Journal of Business Law, 2008

Recognition

Above the Law “West Coast Biglaw All-Star Team of 2014”

Acritas Star Lawyer, 2018, 2019

AmLaw Daily “Dealmaker of the Week,” 2011

Attorney Intel: Top 25 Attorneys in Los Angeles, 2023

Best Lawyers in America, 2010–2024

Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year – Corporate Law, Los Angeles, 2016

Chambers Global: USA: Capital Markets: Debt & Equity, 2009–2017

Chambers Global: USA: Private Equity: Buyouts Nationwide, 2008–2018, 2020–2021

Chambers Global: USA: Corporate M&A (International & Cross-Border), 2020–2024

Chambers USA: Nationwide: Capital Markets: Debt & Equity, 2009–2016

Chambers USA: Nationwide: Private Equity: Buyouts, 2008–2020

Chambers USA: California: Private Equity: Buyouts, 2023–2024

Chambers USA: California: Capital Markets: Debt & Equity, 2008–2016

Chambers USA: California: Corporate/M&A: Private Equity, 2008–2023

Chambers USA: California: Los Angeles & Surrounds: Corporate/M&A, 2021–2022, 2024

Chambers USA: Southern California: Corporate/M&A, 2007–2020

Corporate Intl Magazine Global Award: Private Equity Transactions Lawyer of the Year in California, 2019

Daily Journal “Top 10 California Private Equity Lawyers,” 2014

Daily Journal “Top 100 Lawyers in California,” 2010, 2011, 2014–2016, 2018–2021

Euromoney LMG, Expert Guides: Private Equity, 2020

IFLR1000: California: Highly Regarded, Mergers & Acquisitions, 2018–2024

Law360 MVP: Private Equity, 2013

Lexology Client Choice Award: Exclusive Winner, California Mergers & Acquisitions, 2018, 2019

Los Angeles Business Journal “Leaders in Law” Finalist, 2016, 2018

Los Angeles Business Journal “Most Influential M&A Advisors,” 2013

Los Angeles Business Journal “Who’s Who in L.A. Law,” 2011

Los Angeles Business Journal “Top 100 Lawyers,” 2010

Lawdragon “500 Leading Lawyers in America,” 2007, 2008, 2013–2014, 2020–2022

Lawdragon “500 Leading Dealmakers in America,” 2007, 2020–2022, 2024

Lawdragon “3000 Leading Lawyers in America,” 2011

PLC Which Lawyer?: Corporate M&A

Southern California Super Lawyers, 2005–2024

The Legal 500 United States: M&A Powerlist: USA Region, 2023–2024

The Legal 500 United States: Finance: Capital Markets: Debt Offerings, 2012–2013

The Legal 500 United States: Finance: Capital Markets: Equity Offerings, 2008–2010, 2012, 2015

The Legal 500 United States: Finance: Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt Offerings: Advice To Managers, 2007–2008, 2015

The Legal 500 United States: M&A/Corporate and Commercial: M&A: Large Deals ($1bn+), 2019

The Legal 500 United States: M&A/Corporate and Commercial: Private Equity Buyouts, 2019–2021

Memberships & Affiliations

Board of Trustees, Commentary Magazine

Board of Governors, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Board of Trustees (Chair of Finance Committee), Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Foundation

Dean’s Advisory Council, Daniels School of Business at Purdue University

Advisory Board, Purdue Global Law School (the nation’s first fully online law school)

Adjunct, UCLA School of Law

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 1985California

Education

  • University of Michigan Law SchoolJ.D.1985
  • Purdue University, Krannert Graduate School of ManagementM.S.I.A.1982
  • Purdue UniversityB.S.I.M.1982