Kirkland Adds 40 Lawyers in Private Equity/M&A and Debt Finance

Kirkland & Ellis announced today that 40 lawyers led by private equity/M&A partners Ramona Nee, Jakub Wronski, Emily Willey and Michael Messina, and debt finance partners Benton Lewis and Paul Overmyer, will join the Firm.

“Each of these exceptional partners has built deep relationships with many of the world’s leading private equity sponsors,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “They bring outstanding experience across sophisticated PE/M&A and finance and they will be a terrific fit with our platform and our clients. We’re excited to welcome their entire team to Kirkland.”

“My partners and I are grateful for the opportunity to join a world-class partnership and excited to join ranks with the exceptional professionals at Kirkland. The Kirkland platform is truly incredible and is an outstanding fit for our clients. The collegiality and collaboration extended by Kirkland during this period is very meaningful to me and the team,” said Ms. Nee.

Recognized as one of the leading private equity lawyers in the U.S., Ramona Nee brings more than 25 years of experience advising sophisticated financial sponsors and their portfolio companies on leveraged buyouts, takeprivates, carve-outs, joint ventures and other complex transactions. She has advised on hundreds of transactions representing tens of billions of dollars in aggregate deal value. Ms. Nee has been recognized as a leading private equity lawyer by Chambers USA, Legal 500 U.S., IFLR1000, Forbes and Lawdragon, among other publications. She was also named a finalist for “Managing Partner of the Year” by Corporate Counsel’s Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards, which commends women leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in law.

Jakub Wronski represents private equity sponsors and other institutional investors, as well as public and private companies, in complex transactions including leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, minority investments and divestitures, as well as matters involving corporate governance, securities, and other strategic corporate and commercial matters. He has experience across technology and communications, financial services, industrials and consumer sectors, and is recognized as a leading private equity lawyer by Chambers USA, Legal 500 U.S. and IFLR1000.

Emily Willey was named a 2026 “Emerging Leader” by The M&A Advisor and a “Rising Star” in the Connecticut Law Tribune’s 2025 New England Legal Awards. She represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and other corporate transactions.

Michael Messina also advises on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures for private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies. He was named to Lawdragon 500 X’s “The Next Generation” list.

Benton Lewis brings significant experience advising on a range of complex financing transactions, including acquisition financings, asset-based working capital financings, debtor-in-possession and exit financings, workouts and debt restructurings. Mr. Lewis has been recognized for banking by IFLR1000 and Legal 500 U.S. In 2024, he received a prestigious Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing.

Paul Overmyer advises private equity sponsors, borrowers and financial institutions on bank financing transactions, including acquisition financings, first- and second-lien credit facilities, asset-based lending and restructurings. In 2025, he was named a rising star for banking and finance by IFLR1000. He has also been recommended for bank lending by Legal 500 U.S. and named a 2024 “Emerging Leader” by The M&A Advisor.

All of the lawyers will join Kirkland in January 2027 from Weil, Gotshal & Manges.