Scott Rolnik, P.C.

Accenture said Tuesday it will acquire Ookla, a Seattle-based provider of internet data products, from Ziff Davis, in a deal that Accenture said will give customers insights into network metrics that are increasingly critical in the age of artificial intelligence. Both Accenture and Ziff Davis announced the deal, with the latter company stating the purchase price as $1.2 billion in cash. Ookla's network intelligence and analytics include data products like Speedtest, Downdetector, Ekahau and RootMetrics. Accenture said the acquisition will help communications service providers, or CSPs, hyperscalers and enterprises "optimize the mission-critical Wi-Fi and 5G networks that power their digital core." "Network data is no longer just a lifeline for the telecoms industry; it now creates significant value across all sectors," according to Accenture. "As AI scales, the insights captured at the network, device, and application layers are essential to enhance fraud prevention in banking, smart home analytics in utilities, and traffic optimization in retail." Ookla comes with a team of approximately 430 experts specializing in software engineering, radio frequency engineering and data science, Accenture said. By comparison, Accenture, which "helps the world's leading enterprises reinvent by building their digital core and unleashing the power of AI to create value at speed across the enterprise," said it has approximately 784,000 personnel. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals, Accenture said. In a statement, Vivek Shah, CEO of Ziff Davis, called the deal transformative, "representing a significant realization of value for our shareholders and a concrete illustration of the quality of the businesses in our portfolio." Evercore Group LLC and Citi served as Ziff Davis' financial advisers. Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised Ziff Davis, led by partners David Klein, Andrew Norwich and Daniel Wolf. Counsel information for Accenture was not immediately available.

Mar 3

1 min

Global alternative asset management firm TPG will acquire a majority stake in critical infrastructure provider Sabre Industries Inc. from Blackstone Energy Transition Partners in a deal guided by Latham & Watkins LLP, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and Vinson & Elkins LLP, the companies announced Friday. According to the announcement, TPG used its TPG Rise Climate investment platform to obtain the majority stake, and the deal is supposed to be completed in the second quarter of 2026. Blackstone will keep its minority stake in Sabre, which initially received investments from Blackstone's managed funds in 2021, the companies said. According to the announcement, Sabre has 2,800 employees, and its clients include data centers and telecommunications companies. In a Friday article about the deal, Reuters reported that Sabre is worth $3.5 billion. In separate Friday statements, executives for all three companies praised the deal, with TPG partner Steven Mandel describing the transaction as "a significant opportunity." "We believe there is a significant opportunity for leading equipment providers to meet rising electricity demand and modernize a grid increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events," Mandel said. "Sabre's leadership in transmission and distribution, combined with its specialized enclosures for the data center market, positions the company at the heart of these essential trends." TPG declined to provide additional comment Friday. Blackstone and Sabre didn't respond to requests for additional comment. TPG is represented by Kristen Grannis, James Garrett, John Miller, Jameson Miller, Kevin Donovan, David Lee, Talia Wyschogrod, Jennifer Boyd, Harrison Little, Alec Born, James Langlois, Katharine Moir, Greg Conyers, Ben Rosemergy, Victoria Wolfe, Alyssa Dantoin, Sandy Benjamin, Sahar Merchant, Elizabeth Gemdjian, Debbie Hinck, Susana Santos, Victoria Allen, Scott Joiner, C.J. Rydberg, Julia Hatcher, Josh Marnitz, Anna Dykema, Phil Goldberg, Harrison White, Amara Banks, Enrique Covarrubias, Shira Bressler, and Brandon Hemans of Latham & Watkins LLP and Scott Rolnik, Lauren Nickoloff, Shelby Lindholm, Emily Barber, Michael Urschel, Brandon Karas, and Jared Rusman of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Blackstone is represented by Benji Barron, Jordan M. Fossee, Zac Horne, Rylie Goldwait, Chet Wynne, Domonique Richardson, Jason McIntosh, Brian Russell, Patrick Darby, David Wicklund, Megan Hardy, Dane Rogerson, Hill Wellford, Kara Kuritz, Ryan Will, Matt Dobbins, Kelly Rondinelli, Becky Baker, Peter Goetschel, Shane Tucker, Kenneth Strain, Madeline O'Neill, Sarah Mitchell, Victoria Bahrami-Negad, Jamie Leader, Courtney Hammond, Rajesh Patel, Haley Titcomb, Fry Wernick, Brian Howard, Joyce Adetutu, Randall Johnston, Frankie Vélez, and Claire Connor of Vinson & Elkins LLP.

Feb 6

2 min

Kirkland & Ellis announced today that Scott Rolnik will join the Firm as a partner in the Debt Finance Practice Group. “Scott is a talented debt finance lawyer with significant experience advising clients on their most complex financing transactions,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “We’re very excited to welcome him to our leading debt finance team.” Mr. Rolnik advises numerous top-tier private equity firms and their portfolio companies, as well as public companies on structuring, negotiating and documenting debt finance and other capital markets transactions, including syndicated credit facilities and private credit and direct lending financings. He also provides guidance on complex liability management transactions. “Scott has deep industry knowledge and an extensive track record of advising on market-leading, innovative large-cap and mid-market financings,” said debt finance partner Jason Kanner. “His creative and collaborative approach to serving clients and high energy will be a great fit for our debt finance practice.” Mr. Rolnik joins from Ropes & Gray LLP, where he was a partner. He earned degrees from George Washington University and Brooklyn Law School. “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to join Kirkland, which is recognized as the premier law firm for sophisticated borrower-side debt finance work,” said Mr. Rolnik. “The Firm’s emphasis on a team-based approach was very attractive, especially when coupled with its world-class platform.” With more than 350 dedicated lawyers, Kirkland’s debt finance practice is the largest in the world and serves more than 500 private equity clients. According to Bloomberg, Debtwire and Refinitiv, Kirkland consistently handles more debt finance transactions for borrowers than any other law firm and, for the last five years, has led the market in U.S. borrower transactions. The practice is recognized by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and other publications for its work on complex, high-profile transactions; exceptional commercial understanding of U.S. and international financing markets; and excellence in client service.

Nov 25

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis advised TPG on the financing for its acquisition of a majority stake in Sabre Industries, Inc., a provider of engineered critical infrastructure solutions for power utilities, telecom companies and data centers, from Blackstone. TPG will make the investment through TPG Rise Climate, the firm’s dedicated climate investing platform. Funds managed by Blackstone Energy Transition Partners, which first invested in Sabre in 2021, will retain a significant minority stake and continue Blackstone’s partnership with the company. The deal, which was announced February 6, 2026, is expected to close by Q2 2026, subject to customary approvals and closing conditions. Read the transaction press release The team included debt finance lawyers Scott Rolnik, Lauren Nickoloff, Shelby Lindholm and Emily Barber; structured finance lawyers Michael Urschel and Brandon Karas; and tax lawyer Jared Rusman.

Feb 6

1 min

Kirkland represented TPG in obtaining the financing for its majority investment in Trustwell, a provider of SaaS-based regulatory, compliance and traceability solutions for the food industry. Read the transaction press release The team included debt finance lawyers Scott Rolnik, Lauren Nickoloff and Bianca Ng.

Jan 9

1 min