Kirkland & Ellis announced its partner promotions this week. The Chicago-based firm elevated 122 attorneys to partner firmwide, including eight in Texas.
Seven of the new partners in Texas are based in Houston.
Ryan Copeland represents private equity funds, financial institutions and commercial borrowers in finance and restructuring transactions, including syndicated credit facilities, secured energy transactions, merger and acquisition financings, restructurings, reorganizations and workouts.
John Furlow, a University of Texas School of Law graduate, is in the firm’s M&A/private equity practice. He handles private equity, asset and equity M&A transactions, strategic investments, securities offerings and complex commercial transactions with a principal focus on the energy sector.
Chris Heasley advises on acquisitions, divestitures and formation of joint ventures involving energy assets, with a particular emphasis on oil and gas deep-water and unconventional resources.
Chad Nichols is a member of the firm’s debt finance practice. He concentrates on private equity, financing transactions and debt restructurings.
Laura Stake practices in the firm’s investment funds group, where she focuses on the formation and operation of private investment funds.
Kyle Watson represents private equity sponsors and public and private company clients in complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital investments, leveraged buyouts and related general corporate counseling.
Sarah Williams is the lone newly-minted partner in Texas who is a litigator. The University of Houston Law Center graduate represents plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal court in energy, contract, fraud, consumer, trade secret and bankruptcy-related disputes.
Benjamin Adelson, who joined Kirkland’s Dallas office from Weil in August, advises private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in acquisitions and investments, divestitures, joint ventures and other corporate matters.