John Kaercher will join Kirkland & Ellis’ corporate practice as the firm launches its Austin office.
Kaercher, a graduate of the University of Texas and University of Virginia Law, comes to Kirkland from Baker Botts, where he co-chaired the private equity pillar.
Kaercher’s practice includes a track record of working on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, SPACs, private equity and public and private securities offerings.
“While I was not looking for a move, the opportunity to help open an office in Austin for the top firm in the world was very exciting and impossible to overlook,” Kaercher shared in an email. “I have worked opposite Kirkland on numerous transactions and have always found their lawyers to be smart, commercial, cooperative and creative. I am very excited to work alongside them and learn from them in a new context.”
He added that Kirkland’s corporate practice is second-to-none and, thanks to the volume of deals the firm sees, it stays abreast of the cutting-edge tools used in a transactional practice.
Some of Kaercher’s recent transactions include providing counsel to data and software firm ESO Solutions on a strategic investment from Vista Equity; advising SHUAA Capital, one of the backers of blank check company Vistas Media Acquisition Company in its de-SPAC transaction with Anghami; and working with Liberty Latin America in its $500 million acquisition of certain Telefónica wireless operations in Costa Rica.
“John has built a name for himself in the energy and technology M&A space, and we are excited for him to join the team in Austin,” Kirkland corporate partner Andy Calder said.
The Chicago-founded firm announced in April the opening of its Austin office with four existing partners moving their practices to the capital city to kickstart the launch.
“There is no denying that, when you think of the cities of the future, Austin is at the top of the list,” said Kaercher.
The Texas Lawbook revealed some of the results from its annual firm finance survey yesterday with Kirkland – which didn’t have an office in Texas seven years ago – ranking as the top revenue-generating firm in the state.
Kirkland revenues jumped from $289 million in 2019 to $529 million in 2020, unseating legacy Texas-based firms that had long-dominated the list.
And with a hot market environment in 2021, Kaercher said that while a pullback could be possible, his clients are strong and continue to be extremely thoughtful about transactions, rather than jumping head first and without a parachute.
“As long as that trend continues, important and meaningful deals will continue to reign,” he said.