Two Partners Recognized as Rising Stars in Private Equity

Law.com International named Kirkland partners Adrian Duncan and Dan Clarke to its 2025 list of “Private Equity Rising Stars” for their roles on several significant transactions. Adrian was highlighted for advising Actis on its sale to General Atlantic, a highly complex deal involving multiple LP consents, a dual-track GP-stakes and control-deal analysis, and extensive regulatory coordination. Dan earned recognition for his work on major sponsor mandates, including Warburg Pincus’ acquisition of Health Partners Group and Advent International’s $4.8 billion acquisition of a majority stake in Reckitt’s Essential Home portfolio.

Now in its eighth year, the “Private Equity Rising Stars” list spotlights standout private equity lawyers under age 40. The 2025 honorees represented 17 firms across six countries and were selected based on client relationships, deal scale and complexity, market feedback, and wider professional contributions.