Kirkland & Ellis LLP - Who's Who Legal 70

What is the Who's Who Legal 70?

Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Who's Who Legal

	Corporate Governance
	4

	Real Estate
	1

	Corporate Governance
	4

	Business Crime Defence
	2

	Trademarks
	3

	Insolvency & Restructuring
	3

	Competition
	4

	Patents
	5

	Private funds
	8

	Mergers & Acquisitions
	3

	Management Labour & Employment
	1

	Banking
	2

	Capital Markets
	1

	Private funds
	8

	Internet & e-Commerce
	4

	Corporate Tax
	5

	Environment
	4

The private funds team makes a huge contribution to the firm’s reputation. Mark Mifsud is “without a doubt one of the best in the UK” and is the current chair of the IBA subcommittee on private investment funds. Eight additional K&E lawyers make the grade, including Richard Watkins who is “brilliant and a reliable advisor” and whose clients include 3i Group, CVC Capital Partners and Terra Firma Capital Partners. In Hong Kong, Justin Dolling “has a sharp business mind” and has advised on matters for Temasek Holdings, Candover Partners and Standard Life Private Equity. Bruce Ettelson in Chicago is “top-notch” and “very well respected” and Kirk Radke is “top-flight” when it comes to transactional work, fund formations and private equity spin-outs.

The much-recognised intellectual property practice includes the “fantastic” Bob Krupa. Featuring in the patents, trademarks and internet and e-commerce chapters he is described as “one of the real stars in America” and his track record shows that this is no exaggeration. He has represented more than 200 clients in more than 900 matters and has obtained the largest paid patent settlement in history (US$1.35 billion). Accompanying Krupka in the patents section are David Callahan, Mark Pals William Streff and recent joiner Kenneth Adamo. James Amend and Dale Cendali add their names to the trademarks list. The internet and e-commerce listing is completed with Gregg Kirchhoefer, who is responsible for the firm’s intellectual property and technology transactions practice group in Chicago, as well as San Francisco-based Stephen Johnson.

With four nominated environment experts, the Washington office leads the way for work in this field. Walter Lohmann, who heads the firm’s environmental transactional practice group, is highly recommended. Another phenomenal talent is in the insolvency and restructuring practice. The “fantastic” James Sprayregen is one of the most highly nominated lawyers in our global research. He has represented clients in some of the largest recent restructuring matters and chapter 11 cases in the US, including Readers Digest Association, DBSD North America, MEGA Brands, Conseco and Japan Airlines.

The respected corporate practice includes M&A specialist Scott Falk and the “top-notch” Stephen Fraidin. David Fox and of counsel Cater Emerson also rank alongside Fraidin in the praised corporate governance practice. Emerson’s talents extend to capital markets where he is joined by Joshua Korff as well as Gerald Nowak, who focuses on complex securities matters including initial public offerings, high yield offerings, spin-offs, tender offers and investment grade debt offerings.

The Chicago office makes its mark in corporate tax with three of the four lawyers, Jack Levin, Todd Maynes and Jeffrey Sheffield, hailing from the firm’s headquarters. Described as “great” for tax work, Patrick Gallagher has been singled out in New York.

The firm also features lawyers in banking, business crime, competition, labour and employment, product liability defence and public procurement, demonstrating the breadth of its expertise.