Kirkland Shortlisted in 16 Categories at TMT Finance Awards USA

TMT Finance named Kirkland as a finalist in 16 categories ahead of its 2026 USA Awards, which celebrate excellence in digital infrastructure dealmaking and investments. Winners will be named on October 7, 2026, at the annual TMT Finance Awards USA in New York.

Kirkland was named a finalist for “Legal Advisory Trailblazer of the Year,” and partner Melissa Kalka was named a finalist for “Lawyer of the Year.” Additionally, the Firm was shortlisted in the following “Deal of the Year” categories:

Data Center Deal of the Year — Debt: Meta and Blue Owl’s $27.3 billion SJV Project Beignet 
Data Center Deal of the Year — Debt: Related Digital’s senior secured notes issuance for Michigan data center campus 
Data Center Deal of the Year — Debt: STACK Infrastructure’s $18 billion Project Miner project financing 
Data Center Deal of the Year — M&A: Meta and Blue Owl’s joint venture to develop the Hyperion data center campus 
Data Center Deal of the Year — M&A: Blackstone and Quinbrook’s $10 billion recapitalization of Rowan Digital Infrastructure 
Data Center Deal of the Year — M&A: Snowhawk and Nuveen’s strategic equity investment in Prime Data Centers 
Fiber Deal of the Year — Debt: IQ Fiber’s $250 million greenfield expansion financing
Fiber Deal of the Year — Debt: Metronet’s $1 billion wholesale ABS financing
Mid-market M&A Deal of the Year: Bluebird Fiber’s $384.6 million acquisition of Everstream 
Mid-market M&A Deal of the Year: DigitalBridge and Arclight’s $500 million investment in Takanock
Mid-market M&A Deal of the Year: Metronet’s acquisition of US Internet 
Towers Deal of the Year — M&A or Debt: Sale of Crown Castle’s small cells solutions business to EQT 
Towers Deal of the Year — M&A or Debt: Harmoni Towers’ $620 million wireless tower private placement
Towers Deal of the Year — M&A or Debt: KKR’s $1.5 billion strategic investment in Vertical Bridge