Press Release

Kirkland & Ellis Opens Paris Office with Partners Vincent Ponsonnaille and Laurent Victor-Michel

Kirkland & Ellis is pleased to announce its expansion in Europe with the launch of an office in Paris. The new office is the global law firm’s third in Europe and 15th worldwide. Partners Vincent Ponsonnaille and Laurent Victor-Michel joined the Firm earlier this year and will lead the new office. Both lawyers are highly regarded for their experience in the French private equity market, and will assist clients with deals in France and across Europe.

“Vincent and Laurent are recognised as two of the leading partners in the European private equity market. They will join us during a time of rapid growth and investment in our European offices. We are excited about the value they will bring for our private equity clients on transactions in France and globally, including with our leading teams in London and Munich,” said Jeffrey C. Hammes, Chairman of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee.

Mr. Ponsonnaille and Mr. Victor-Michel advise on complex mergers, acquisitions and investments for holders of private capital including financial sponsors and sovereign wealth funds. Mr. Ponsonnaille was formerly a partner and co-leader of the financial sponsor group of Linklaters; and Mr. Victor-Michel was previously a partner in the Paris office of Linklaters.

Kirkland has over 300 lawyers working across its offices in London and Munich. The Firm ranked first for global private equity buyouts by both value and deal count in 2018, according to mergermarket.

About Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis is a global law firm with 2,500 attorneys representing clients in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions, litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, restructuring and intellectual property matters. With the new office, the Firm has 15 offices around the world: Paris, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.