Germany

US firm Kirkland & Ellis established an office in Germany in Munich,its second branch in Europe, in 2005.  

Founded in 1909 in Chicago, Kirkland & Ellis is a leading US and international firm with a network of 15 offices spanning three continents.  

Focusses / specialisms  

In Germany, like the firm as a whole, the team has a focus on serving the needs of financial sponsors and does this well. However, the firm’s restructuring team is its – and one of the market’s – best in Germany.  

In lending and borrowing work, the firm specialises in advising sponsors in LBO transactions and exclusively works for borrowers.  

The firm’s work in the capital markets area is typically bond issues and also focused around private equity transactions. It represents sponsors on bond issues to finance acquisitions or refinance portfolio businesses, or on exits through an IPO.  

The firm’s transactional private equity team is large and experienced and is generally seen on a share of what large primary or secondary transactions there are in Germany annually. It more often works for US-based funds.  

The restructuring practice is known for working for creditors (often funds) on large cases with a complex debt element, and in the recent past has been involved in a good share of large German or European cases.  

Key clients  

Advent, Apax, Bain, BC Partners, CVC, Cinven, Apollo, Brookfield and Lone Star are a few of the firm’s key private equity clients.  

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Bank lending 

“Very commercial, close to market standards, high technical expertise, lots of experience, high accessibility.” 

Private equity 

“Kirkland & Ellis have quickly become the leaders for German corporate M&A and public to privates. They combine a high-performing culture with excellent technical ability, commercial astuteness and an international outlook.”