Ben Zeris

Associate Technology & IP Transactions
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP

London +44 20 7953 2752

Ben Zeris

Overview

Ben Zeris is an associate in the London office of Kirkland’s Technology and Intellectual Property Transactions Practice Group. Ben’s practice focuses on advising clients on a variety of complex commercial and corporate transactions in which technology, IP and data play a major role, including M&A (sales, acquisitions and carve-outs), mergers, transfers, licensing, brand co-operations, security, joint ventures, research & development agreements, settlements, and services, manufacturing and supply arrangements.

Ben also advises clients on data protection compliance in relation to the EU General Data Protection Regulation and related European data privacy laws.

Ben has a wealth of experience across a range of sectors and industries, including life sciences, software, media, gaming, entertainment, telecommunications, food & beverages, digital marketing, hospitality and investment management. Ben’s prior experience in other international firms provides him with additional valuable experience in international and strategy aspects of commercial transactions that have proved invaluable for his clients. Ben has also acquired the Oxford Postgraduate Diploma in IP law and Practice which provides him with invaluable knowledge of the legal structure underpinning IP protections.

Since joining Kirkland, Ben has worked on the following matters, advising:

  • Medallia, a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo, on its acquisition of Thunderhead, an enterprise technology provider
  • GIC on its $525 million joint venture with Equinix to develop and operate two xScale™ data centres in South Korea 
  • A sovereign wealth fund on the acquisition of a pan-European logistics portfolio for over €3 billion from EQT Exeter 
  • Blackstone on the acquisition of a majority stake in VFS Global, a global leader in visa outsourcing services 
  • Bain Capital on the c. €1.7 billion acquisition of ITP Aero, an aero engine and gas turbine manufacturer, from Rolls-Royce
  • NortonLifeLock on its c.$25 billion combination with Avast
  • Thoma Bravo on the strategic investment in Condeco, a global leader in workspace scheduling technology 
  • Blackstone and the consortium consisting of Scape Living and iQSA, on the £969 million recommended cash offer for GCP Student Living plc 
  • GIC on its $3.9 billion additional joint ventures with Equinix to expand the xScale™ data centre programme
  • E2Open on the $1.7 billion acquisition of BluJay Solutions, a leading international cloud-based, logistics execution platform
  • HGGC on the sale of a majority stake in Davies, a leading specialist professional services and technology business serving the global insurance market
  • InPost S.A. on the €565 million proposed acquisition of Mondial Relay, the leading French e-commerce out-of-home parcel delivery platform 
  • Flexpoint Ford LLC on its recommended cash acquisition of AFH Financial Group Plc, a financial planning-led wealth management firm 
  • Advanced, a portfolio company of BC Partners and Vista Equity Partners, on the acquisition of Mitrefinch, a global provider of workforce management solutions, from LDC
  • Vitruvian Partners on its sale of Unifaun, a cloud delivery orchestration platform serving the European logistics ecosystem, to Marlin Equity Partners
  • Warburg Pincus on its minority investment in Visma, a leading provider of business-critical software, in a transaction valuing the business at an enterprise value of $12.2 billion
  • Metaswitch Networks, a portfolio company of Francisco Partners and leading provider of virtualised network software and voice, data and communications solutions for operators, on its sale to Microsoft Corporation

Prior to joining Kirkland, Ben worked on the following matters, advising:

  • A manufacturer of semiconductor based system solutions on all IP aspects of the carve-out and sale of various semiconductor lines to Apple Inc.
  • Unilever on the successful auction sale of its Baking, Cooking and Spreads business
  • Nestle in relation to the sale of Nestlé Skin Health to a consortium led by EQT
  • Kongsberg Gruppen ASA on their acquisition of the commercial marine business of Rolls-Royce
  • An EV start-up on an industry-led private investment
  • Various charitable trusts within the INEOS group on sponsorship agreements with Universities and other charities
  • A UBS-led banking consortium on the development of a block-chain based settlement project
  • A well-known social network on their acquisition of an AI marketing platform
  • Grant Thornton International on its network-wide inter-firm licensing arrangements for existing and developing technologies

Linklaters LLP, London

  • Associate, 2018–2020

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

  • Associate, 2016–2018
  • 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 OxfordPostgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice2018
  • BPP Law School, ManchesterLegal Practice Course; Graduate Diploma in Law2014
  • University of NottinghamB.A., EnglishHons2012