Kirkland & Ellis International LLP Adds Star Private Equity Duo in London

Gavin Gordon and David Arnold will join Kirkland & Ellis International LLP from Ashurst LLP. Gordon and Arnold will be partners of Kirkland's internationally recognized Private Equity Practice Group.

"With complementary clients, significant cross-border experience and a stellar reputation in the London market, Gavin and David are a natural match for Kirkland and we are very pleased to have them on board," said Jeffrey C. Hammes, partner and chair of Kirkland's Firmwide Management Committee. "We look forward to their contributions to our London team as our footprint in Europe continues to grow."

Gordon and Arnold have substantial experience advising private equity firms and corporate clients on a wide range of matters, including leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, financings, restructurings and cross-border transactions. Their clients have included Cinven, Blackstone, Candover, Apax Partners, Alinda, LGV Capital, Hutton Collins, Merlin Entertainments, Tragus and Gala Coral.

Gordon recently led transactions including Merlin Entertainments and Blackstone's funding and development of Legoland, Florida; and British Midland plc's £300 million sale to Lufthansa; and represented management on the Countrywide restructuring. Arnold has worked on recent high-profile transactions including Apax Partners' US$830 million buyout of leading IT security company Sophos; the £553 million sale by Candover Partners of Wood Mackenzie to Charterhouse Capital Partners; the €536 million acquisition by Cinven of Coor Service Management; and the acquisition by Abbey of the branch network and deposit book of Bradford & Bingley.

"Gavin and David have proven themselves intelligent, creative and driven, and they bring a lot to the table for our clients. We are very excited they will be joining our global private equity team in London," said James Learner, partner in Kirkland's London office.

Kirkland was named the Best Law Firm for Private Equity Deals by Private Equity International for the last two years, and top legal publisher Chambers & Partners has said that Kirkland's private equity practice has "unrivalled expertise in transactions … and sheer creativity in problem solving."

Kirkland & Ellis is a 1,500-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex private equity, corporate and tax, litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, restructuring, and intellectual property and technology matters. The Firm has offices in London, Chicago, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.