The incoming team of more than 120 lawyers advises on GP-led and LP-led secondaries, fund restructurings, strategic GP-stakes transactions, and fund finance, among other matters.
The firm continues to build out its secondary market capabilities with the addition of seasoned secondaries lawyer Alex Chauvin to its London office.
The transatlantic recruits expand Willkie's secondaries and GP-led liquidity solutions capabilities across London and Washington, DC.
The former Debevoise & Plimpton Counsel brings experience advising on GP-led and LP-led transactions, structured secondaries, and continuation funds.
Christian Vareika brings a decade of experience advising on continuation vehicle transactions, secondary purchases and sales, and structured liquidity solutions.
The hiring spree adds experience across GP stakes, GP-led secondaries, and continuation vehicle transactions, as competition among law firms for established secondaries talent intensifies.
"Our clients have told us that they need market leading secondaries capability. We listened," said UK Managing Partner Denise Gibson.
The former Freshfields Global Co-Head of Private Funds and Secondaries will advise on secondary transactions and related liquidity solutions, including CVs, LP portfolio sales, and recapitalizations.
The returning Akin Counsel advises sponsors and institutional investors on various matters, including secondary and GP-led transactions.
This marks the third notable departure from Kirkland so far this September, with former Partners Michael Farrell and Christopher Pristouris also joining competing law firms in liquidity-focused roles.
