Private Equity Lawyer Peng Yu Joins Kirkland & Ellis in Hong Kong

Kirkland & Ellis announced today that Peng Yu, a leading private equity and M&A lawyer, will be joining the Firm as a partner in its Hong Kong office. Focusing on Greater China, Mr. Yu has extensive experience in advising global and regional private equity and corporate clients on a wide range of strategically important transactions, including buyouts, take-privates, PIPEs, growth capital investments, divestitures, joint ventures and other cross-border transactions.

“Peng’s market stature, experience and energy will help us deepen and expand relationships in Asia with leading global and regional private equity funds as well as marquee corporate clients,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “Our leading private equity platform continues to attract top talent, like Peng, across the U.S., Europe and Greater China — a key region for our international strategy.”

Mr. Yu has been recognized as a leading lawyer in private equity by Chambers Greater China. He is joining Kirkland from the Hong Kong office of another international law firm.

“Our strategy in Asia is to focus on a diverse range of high-end, high-value transactions and litigation matters. We have built a strong private equity franchise in Asia known for handling the most complex and cutting-edge transactions,” said Hong Kong-based transactional partner David Zhang. “Having Peng join us represents another milestone of our growth in the region.”

One of the largest private equity practices in Asia, Kirkland’s footprint in the region consists of more than 140 lawyers and other legal professionals in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai handling cross-border private equity/M&A, capital markets, fund formation and financing transactions, as well as complex restructuring, litigation and white collar matters. The team has been involved in some of the largest and most complex private equity deals in the region.

“We are thrilled to add Peng to our market-leading transactional platform,” said Hong Kong-based transactional partner Gary Li. “With Peng’s deep experience and recognition in the market, he will bolster our China private equity brand by enhancing our capabilities in serving the increasingly diverse and sophisticated needs of our private equity clients.”

Kirkland is routinely honored as a top law firm for private equity transactions. China Business Law Journal recognized Kirkland with 2021 awards for “Best International Law Firm” and “Private Equity & Venture Capital Practice”; Asian Legal Business China Law Awards named Kirkland the 2021 “Private Equity Law Firm of the Year”; Mergermarket China M&A Awards recognized Kirkland as 2021 “Private Equity Legal Advisor of the Year”; and IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards named Kirkland 2021 “Private Equity Team of the Year.”