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Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland & Ellis is a global law firm with ~4,000 attorneys, dominating private equity and M&A work. Founded 1909, 23 offices worldwide.
Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland & Ellis was founded in 1909 and has grown into one of the world's largest law firms by revenue, operating through offices in Chicago, San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York, London, Hong Kong, and more than a dozen other cities. The firm partners with private equity sponsors, corporations, and financial institutions on complex transactions, investment fund formation, and high-profile litigation. The firm's practice spans private equity and M&A, investment fund formation, restructuring, intellectual property, and white collar defense. It advises on direct investments, fund commitments, and co-investments, frequently representing some of the largest alternative asset managers—Apollo, Advent International, Thoma Bravo, and I Squared Capital, among others—across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Recent engagements include advising ArcLight Capital Partners on a sale to DigitalBridge for up to $1.05 billion (per Kirkland & Ellis, May 2026) and representing I Squared Capital on a $1 billion commitment to a new AI data center platform. Kirkland maintains roughly 4,000 attorneys firmwide, with a team structure organized around practice area groups rather than a single investment office. The firm does not operate a philanthropic foundation separately disclosed; its charitable giving is managed through the firm itself. May 2026: Kirkland represented 5th Century Partners on the final close of Fund II above target at $276 million. Kirkland & Ellis is structured as a law firm partnership, not a family office or asset manager—a critical distinction. Its capital comes from client fees, not a single family's wealth, and it deploys no balance sheet capital into investments; it advises clients on their own capital deployment via direct deals and fund formations.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
1909
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Chicago
Corporate office
Chicago, IL, United States
Additional offices
San Francisco · Menlo Park · New York · London · Hong Kong · Dubai
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who leads investment decisions at Kirkland & Ellis?
Kirkland & Ellis is not an investment firm; as a law firm partnership, it does not have investment decision-makers akin to a family office. Its leadership consists of partners who oversee practice groups, such as corporate, litigation, and restructuring. Client matters are handled by partner-led teams.
Does Kirkland & Ellis invest its own capital alongside clients?
No. Kirkland & Ellis provides legal advisory services and does not deploy its own balance sheet capital into investments. The firm's role is to represent clients—such as private equity funds, corporations, and financial institutions—on their transactions, not to invest alongside them (per firm materials).
How does Kirkland & Ellis source proprietary deal flow?
Kirkland & Ellis sources deal flow through its extensive client network—representing many of the world's largest private equity sponsors and corporations. The firm's lawyers are often involved in the structuring and negotiation of deals, giving them early visibility into transactions, but the firm does not originate investments for its own account.
Which sectors does Kirkland & Ellis focus on?
Kirkland & Ellis advises across all major sectors, with recognized strength in private equity, M&A, investment funds, restructuring, intellectual property, and litigation. Key industry teams include technology, healthcare, energy and natural resources, financial institutions, and infrastructure. The firm does not maintain explicit sector exclusion lists; its coverage is broad and demand-driven.
Is Kirkland & Ellis structured as a single family office?
No. Kirkland & Ellis is a law firm partnership organized under the name Kirkland & Ellis LLP. It is not a family office, asset manager, or investment vehicle. Its wealth originates from legal fees paid by clients, not from a single family or individual.
Where does the wealth underlying Kirkland & Ellis come from?
Kirkland & Ellis derives its revenue from legal services provided to a diverse client base, including private equity firms, corporations, and other institutions. It is not a family-office entity, and its capital is not generated from a family fortune. The firm's partners share in its profits.
What investment stages does Kirkland & Ellis typically advise on?
Kirkland & Ellis advises on transactions across all stages, from venture capital and growth equity to buyouts, pre-IPO, restructurings, and public company M&A. The firm also handles investment fund formation for managers at all stages, from first-time funds to multi-billion-dollar platforms.
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