Overview

Daniel Lavon-Krein is a partner in the Investment Funds Group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and serves on the Firm's Executive Committee, the governing body of Kirkland & Ellis. He has championed countless large global private equity fund formations ranging from boutique sponsors to mega-funds across a wide variety of strategies. In addition, as the co-founder and co-head of the Strategic GP Advisory practice at Kirkland, Daniel is widely recognized as a leader and pioneer in advising private equity sponsors and buyers on complex minority investments in existing firms, control sale transactions and other liquidity events and strategic transactions.

In his fund formation practice, Daniel has advised on the formation and fundraising of more than 70 funds with total capital commitments exceeding $130 billion. As the co-head of the Strategic GP Advisory practice, Daniel has led the representations of over 40 firms selling interests in this rapidly evolving market, including advising on the largest 5 GP stakes deals completed to date. In connection with these transactions and fund formation matters, his mature, multidimensional practice also includes advising sponsors on internal firm restructurings, succession planning and other major strategic issues.

Daniel is recognized as a top tier attorney by numerous publications where he is commended for his strong practice encompassing fund formation and sales of minority stakes in fund managers. Most recently, Daniel was ranked as a top band attorney in Chambers Global 2022–2024 and Chambers USA 2022–2023 where he was called out for being “a real thought partner.” Clients have also remarked that he is "a consummate deal-maker who understands the bigger picture" and that he is “excellent, smart and responsive." In IFLR1000 2021's Tier 1 ranking of Kirkland & Ellis LLP's private equity funds practice, Daniel is named as a highly regarded practitioner. Daniel was also named one of the top 30 lawyers under 40 across United States, Europe and Asia by PEI’s Private Funds Management magazine. In 2018, Daniel was named “one of the foremost figures in the space acting on the formation of multibillion-dollar funds” by Who’s Who Legal. Foreshadowing his rise, in 2016 the New York Law Journal named Daniel a “Rising Star,” an honor awarded to only a small number of attorneys who have established an impressive record of accomplishments under the age of 40. Law360 also named Daniel as one of five Private Equity “Rising Stars for 2016” in the United States. Daniel was also mentioned as a leading attorney in numerous editions of the Legal 500.

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Thought Leadership

Seminars

Moderator, “GP Stakes – report card so far,” SuperReturn International, June 2023

Moderator, Second Wave Fund Finance: Topco NAV Facilities and Minority Interest Deals, Fund & Firm Finance Roundtable, New York City, New York, November 19, 2019

Panelist, Strategic Minority Investments and Internal Firm Restructurings, 22nd Annual Columbia Business School Private Equity & Venture Capital Conference, New York, February 19, 2016

Panelist, "General Partner Succession Planning," Kellogg Private Equity And Venture Capital Conference, April 2015

Panelist, "Private Equity Funds: Overview of Recent Trends In Market Terms & Structures," 21st Annual Columbia Business School Private Equity & Venture Capital Conference, March 2015

Panelist, "Impact of Regulation in Private Equity Funds," 6th Maples Investment Funds Forum, February 2015

Speaker, "Private Equity GP / LP Fund Terms," New York Private Equity Network, July 2013

Moderator, "Private Equity & Venture Capital in Brazil Fund & Manager Showcase," ABVCAP, September 2012

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2007New York

Languages

  • English
  • German
  • French

Education

  • McGill University Faculty of LawLL.B./B.C.L.with Great Distinction2003
  • University of TorontoB.A., Political Sciencewith High Distinction2000