Andrew J. Gershon and Semhar M. Woldai Join Kirkland’s Liquidity Solutions Practice

Kirkland & Ellis announced today that Andrew J. Gershon and Semhar M. Woldai will join the Firm as partners in the liquidity solutions practice of the Investment Funds Group.

“Andrew is a leader in the secondaries space, and Semhar is a talented rising star,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “We’re excited to have them on our leading secondaries team.”

Mr. Gershon represents investors and sponsor-side clients on a variety of secondary transactions, including fund recapitalizations and restructurings, traditional acquisitions and dispositions of fund interests, leveraged and syndicated acquisitions, secondary direct and managed fund transactions and tender offers. He was previously a partner with Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.

“Kirkland is the market leader for investment funds work, with the largest volume of secondaries transactions of any law firm in the world,” said Mr. Gershon. “I’m thrilled to join the premier platform in the secondaries market and to contribute to its continued growth and success.”

Ms. Woldai advises private investment fund sponsors on fund formation and structuring matters, with a focus on secondary transactions, including continuation funds. She also has experience representing institutional investors in private fund investments. She joins from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, where she was counsel.

“Kirkland presented an exciting opportunity to join an unmatched platform and a team of really exceptional lawyers who value collaboration, developing talent and a team-first approach,” said Ms. Woldai. “I look forward to joining my new colleagues and contributing to the continued momentum and success of Kirkland’s secondaries team.

“Andrew and Semhar are top performers in the secondaries world, and we’re delighted to bring them on board as demand for this work only continues to accelerate,” said Sean Hill, a senior investment funds partner. “They will be a seamless addition to our leading team in the secondaries space.”

Kirkland also announced on May 6 the hire of Thibaut Partsch, who is joining the Firm’s Investment Funds Group in London and will help lead a more centralized, streamlined and efficient coordination with the various preeminent independent Luxembourg-based law firms for legal and regulatory matters.

Kirkland is a global leader in providing sophisticated advice to investment fund sponsors, institutional investors and other market participants in the alternative investment fund space. Kirkland offers clients the unsurpassed resources of an integrated global team across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, providing advice on private fund formation, liquidity solutions, investment management and regulatory counsel and strategic advisory services. With more than 600 dedicated investment funds attorneys, few firms approach the breadth, depth and scope of Kirkland’s experience in investment funds legal services. Since January 2019, Kirkland has advised more than 1,900 funds closed and in process with total capital commitments in excess of $2.17 trillion.