Vinson & Elkins announced Monday the lateral hiring of two corporate partners: East Berhane from Kirkland & Ellis in Dallas and Benjamin Heriaud from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York.
Berhane advises private equity sponsors and other private and public companies in a wide range of finance transactions. Her practice focuses on debt financings, including acquisition and sponsored leveraged buyout financings, syndicated loan transactions, asset-based lending, debt restructurings and other complex transactions.
Heriaud represents corporate, private equity sponsor and investment banking clients and specializes in capital-raising transactions, with a focus on initial public offerings, alternative, hybrid and private capital transactions, acquisition financings and high-yield debt offerings. He also regularly advises clients on mergers and acquisitions and other strategic transactions, as well as disclosure, corporate governance and compliance matters.
Berhane spent almost nine years at Kirkland, nearly three of them as partner. Her experience includes a secondment at KKR in New York, where she also served as co-head of the firm’s New York Black Affinity Group and a partner advisor to its associates committee.
She received her J.D. in 2015 from the New York University School of Law, where she was an editor of the school’s law review. She earned an undergraduate degree in political economy from the University of California at Berkeley.
“East’s experience with complicated leveraged acquisitions and other sophisticated financings will prove instantly valuable to our clients,” said Vinson & Elkins Partner David Wicklund, head of the firm’s Global Finance Practice Group. “I expect East to play a central role in the growth of our finance practice as we continue to respond to demand from our clients investing in the energy transition and infrastructure assets.”
Heriaud was a partner for nearly three years of his more than eight years at Simpson Thacher where he practiced in the firm’s corporate department and served on the firm’s recruiting committee. He earned his J.D. and undergrad degrees from the University of Virginia.
“Ben’s broad range of capital markets experience advising clients across a spectrum of corporate activities fits in perfectly with our strengths and the needs of our clients,” said Sarah Morgan, who co-heads V&E Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Markets practice groups. “We are excited to have him join and continue to grow our strong corporate practice, in New York and beyond.”
Berhane and Heriaud both said they were enticed by Vinson & Elkins’ dynamism and plan to build on its already strong corporate capabilities.
“The firm has a leading reputation in finance, a strong client base, and ambitious plans to expand its practice in exciting ways with private equity firms and throughout all aspects of infrastructure investing,” said Berhane.
“I’ve always been impressed by Vinson & Elkins’ capital markets platform and reputation for client service, and am thrilled to join the team as part of the firm’s continued growth in New York,” added Heriaud.