Private Equity Super League

In PLC's "Private Equity Super League" list, Kirkland ranked second of 15 global private equity practices. The Private Equity Super League is based on the PLC Which lawyer? research conducted for the Private Equity and Venture Capital multi-jurisdictional guides for 2012/13. The Private Equity Super League results were calculated by aggregating the results of law firm and lawyer recommendations in seven private equity and venture capital categories.

To qualify for inclusion in the Super League, a firm must receive recommendations in a minimum of two countries. Rankings are based on research as of January 31, 2012.

PLC's comments:

Best known for its fantastic mid-market funds practice, the firm has had great success in exporting its longstanding strengths and relationships in the U.S. to Europe and Asia. However, its international offices are not merely support outposts of its U.S. client base. The firm has genuine and highly regarded capacity in London, Munich and Hong Kong, with the offices generating work through their own reputations, while also benefitting from the strength of the firm's global relationships with the likes of Bain Capital, Golden Gate Capital and Sun Capital, to name a few. Its Hong Kong office is the network's most recent addition to the private equity practice, but it already has made significant inroads on fund formation advice, as well as building strong relationships with sovereign wealth funds. In London, Kirkland & Ellis was one of the first U.S. firms to invest significantly in building critical mass on fund formation, where it is now seen as a market leader in Europe, and it has more recently sought to bolster its buyouts practice with the hire of two promising partners from Ashurst. Its financing capabilities, acting for funds as borrowers or mezzanine lenders, add a rounded dimension to the team that cannot be found in many of its U.S. or even its UK rivals. Its U.S. practice is truly nationwide, with excellent capabilities in its home in Chicago, as well as in New York and San Francisco. It has leading buyouts practices in these three key centres, alongside strong fund formation, debt finance and a leading global secondaries practice.

Reprinted with permission from Practical Law Publishing Limited and Practical Law Company, Inc. For full ratings and commentary, visit http://www.practicallaw.com/1-518-7110#a947682.