Partners Matthew Elliott and David Higgins Recognized Among Most Influential Private Equity Lawyers by Private Equity News

Private Equity News named Kirkland partners Matthew Elliott and David Higgins to its 2026 list of the “Twenty Most Influential Private Equity Lawyers.” The publication highlighted Matt and David for leading a team of more than 180 lawyers across London, Paris and Germany, as well as for their roles on the Firm’s global executive committee.

Matt was honored for his work on major private capital and real asset transactions, including leading Blackstone and GIC’s $4 billion collaboration to take control of UK Railway Arches portfolio and Brookfield’s €776 million acquisition of Generator Hostels.

David was noted for his role on large-scale transactions, including leading BC Partners’ £1.9 billion IPO of Shawbrook and KKR’s £4.8 billion acquisition of Spectris.

The annual list celebrates the top legal minds working in the buyout sector in Europe, spanning trusted M&A advisers, leveraged finance heavyweights and infrastructure specialists who have led private equity deals worth billions of dollars over the past 12 months.