Kirkland & Ellis Makes French Debut With New Paris Office

Kirkland & Ellis has expanded its operations in Europe, opening up a new office with a private equity focus in Paris.

The office is led by partners Vincent Ponsonnaille and Laurent Victor-Michel, who joined Kirkland from Linklaters earlier this year. The location is Kirkland’s 15th office worldwide and its third in Europe.

The attorneys there will work closely with the firm’s teams in London and Munich, which include over 300 lawyers.

“Vincent and Laurent are recognized as two of the leading partners in the European private equity market,” Jeffrey C. Hammes, chairman of Kirkland’s global management executive committee, said in a statement. “They will join us during a time of rapid growth and investment in our European offices.”

A spokesman for the firm declined to comment further on the new office opening.

Ponsonnaille and Victor-Michel specialize in complex mergers, acquisitions, and investments for holders of private capital, according to the firm. Ponsonnaille was formerly previously co-led the financial sponsor group at Linklaters.

The new office marks an expansion for a law firm currently at the top of its game. Kirkland, which reported $3.16 billion in gross revenue in 2017, came in first on The American Lawyer’s 2018 ranking of the top 200 U.S. law firms by gross revenue.

Hammes, chair of the executive committee since 2010, has led Kirkland through a period of tremendous growth. Late last year, the firm that he will step down as chair in early 2020, to be replaced by partner Jon Ballis.