John M. Muno

Kirkland & Ellis represented Nautic Partners, LLC, a leading middle-market private equity firm that pursues a thematic and proactive investment strategy within the healthcare, industrials and services sectors, on the formation and final closing of Nautic Partners XI (Fund XI). Fund XI was oversubscribed at its hard cap of $4.5 billion of limited partner commitments, surpassing its target of $3.75 billion. Fund XI is Nautic’s largest fund to date, receiving strong support from both long-standing and notable new institutional investors across North, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Read Nautic Partners’ press release The Kirkland team included investment funds lawyers Michael Snow, Alyssa Jutovsky, John Muno, Reed Schuster, Liza Miadzvedskaya, Devon Salge, Hannah Cloh, Benno Sauermann, Ari Goldman, Samantha Rose and Dylan White; tax lawyers Christopher Odell, Brandon Short and Christian Ekins; and investment funds ERISA lawyer Christine Matott.

Oct 25

1 min

Chicago – Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that John Muno has joined Sidley’s office in Chicago as a partner in the firm’s Investment Funds group. Prior to joining Sidley, Mr. Muno was a partner in the Investment Funds group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Mr. Muno focuses his practice on the formation and operation of private equity investment funds across a wide range of strategies, including leveraged buyouts, distressed investments, secondaries, growth equity, and fund of funds. He has represented sponsors in the formation of funds ranging from multibillion-dollar funds to smaller first-time funds targeting a variety of industries. Mr. Muno also advises clients on continuation funds, annex funds, investment structuring, cross-fund transactions, and other complex transactions. With his extensive knowledge of various securities and tax laws, tax planning and accounting issues, and regulatory matters affecting investment firms and the funds they manage, Mr. Muno is well known for addressing complex issues and developing practical solutions for his clients. In addition, he advises on all facets of internal management structuring, governance, and operational matters, including succession planning and GP stakes transactions. “John has a strong client following and relationships with many of the top private equity fund sponsors,” said Brian Fahrney, Chair of Sidley’s Executive Committee. “As we continue to invest in our practices representing financial sponsors, funds capabilities has been an increasing focus of ours. John is a terrific addition to this practice, and we are pleased to welcome him to the firm and our Chicago office.” “John has built a reputation as a market leader representing sponsors in forming private equity funds across the spectrum,” said Liz Fries, global leader of the firm’s Investment Funds practice and a member of Sidley’s Executive Committee. “With his experience, John will work closely with other partners in strengthening our relationships with both transactional and fund formation clients.” Sidley has attracted significant talent to its Investment Funds practice over the past 12 months, adding Shane Goudey, who leads the firm’s Venture Capital fund formation practice from Palo Alto, Mathew Eapen in Boston, who focuses on venture capital, growth equity, and technology- and healthcare-focused funds, and Ed Gander, the head of Sidley’s London Private Funds group, where he will be joined in the coming weeks by Stephen Fox and Peter Boulle. Together, they serve global fund managers across private equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and secondaries funds. Sidley has a premier, global practice in structuring and advising asset management businesses. The Investment Funds practice group serves virtually every type of investment fund and asset manager, as well as many other market participants. The group has approximately 130 corporate, securities, and derivatives lawyers dedicated to investment funds, investment management, and derivatives work worldwide, and works closely with our sophisticated tax, benefits, regulatory, enforcement, and other related practices. Sidley is an elite global law firm. With approximately 2,300 lawyers and nearly 160 years of experience, we have established a reputation for deploying innovative legal strategies to achieve powerful results for our clients in complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters. Our perspective and reach are truly global, supported by 21 offices strategically situated in key commercial, regulatory, and financial centers across the world. Our lawyers and business professionals, fluent in more than 75 languages, possess the cultural awareness and cross-border legal acumen needed to bring clarity to a dynamic business landscape. Matt Messinger, Director, Public Relations, +1 312 456 4009 (Global) Attorney Advertising—Sidley Austin LLP is a global law firm. Our addresses and contact information can be found at www.sidley.com/en/locations/offices. Sidley and Sidley Austin refer to Sidley Austin LLP and affiliated partnerships as explained at www.sidley.com/disclaimer. Chicago – Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that John Muno has joined Sidley’s office in Chicago as a partner in the firm’s Investment Funds group. Prior to joining Sidley, Mr. Muno was a partner in the Investment Funds group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Mr. Muno focuses his practice on the formation and operation of private equity investment funds across a wide range of strategies, including leveraged buyouts, distressed investments, secondaries, growth equity, and fund of funds. He has represented sponsors in the formation of funds ranging from multibillion-dollar funds to smaller first-time funds targeting a variety of industries. Mr. Muno also advises clients on continuation funds, annex funds, investment structuring, cross-fund transactions, and other complex transactions. With his extensive knowledge of various securities and tax laws, tax planning and accounting issues, and regulatory matters affecting investment firms and the funds they manage, Mr. Muno is well known for addressing complex issues and developing practical solutions for his clients. In addition, he advises on all facets of internal management structuring, governance, and operational matters, including succession planning and GP stakes transactions. “John has a strong client following and relationships with many of the top private equity fund sponsors,” said Brian Fahrney, Chair of Sidley’s Executive Committee. “As we continue to invest in our practices representing financial sponsors, funds capabilities has been an increasing focus of ours. John is a terrific addition to this practice, and we are pleased to welcome him to the firm and our Chicago office.” “John has built a reputation as a market leader representing sponsors in forming private equity funds across the spectrum,” said Liz Fries, global leader of the firm’s Investment Funds practice and a member of Sidley’s Executive Committee. “With his experience, John will work closely with other partners in strengthening our relationships with both transactional and fund formation clients.” Sidley has attracted significant talent to its Investment Funds practice over the past 12 months, adding Shane Goudey, who leads the firm’s Venture Capital fund formation practice from Palo Alto, Mathew Eapen in Boston, who focuses on venture capital, growth equity, and technology- and healthcare-focused funds, and Ed Gander, the head of Sidley’s London Private Funds group, where he will be joined in the coming weeks by Stephen Fox and Peter Boulle. Together, they serve global fund managers across private equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and secondaries funds. Sidley has a premier, global practice in structuring and advising asset management businesses. The Investment Funds practice group serves virtually every type of investment fund and asset manager, as well as many other market participants. The group has approximately 130 corporate, securities, and derivatives lawyers dedicated to investment funds, investment management, and derivatives work worldwide, and works closely with our sophisticated tax, benefits, regulatory, enforcement, and other related practices. Sidley is an elite global law firm. With approximately 2,300 lawyers and nearly 160 years of experience, we have established a reputation for deploying innovative legal strategies to achieve powerful results for our clients in complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters. Our perspective and reach are truly global, supported by 21 offices strategically situated in key commercial, regulatory, and financial centers across the world. Our lawyers and business professionals, fluent in more than 75 languages, possess the cultural awareness and cross-border legal acumen needed to bring clarity to a dynamic business landscape. Matt Messinger, Director, Public Relations, +1 312 456 4009 (Global) Attorney Advertising—Sidley Austin LLP is a global law firm. Our addresses and contact information can be found at www.sidley.com/en/locations/offices. Sidley and Sidley Austin refer to Sidley Austin LLP and affiliated partnerships as explained at www.sidley.com/disclaimer.

May 20

5 min

Kirkland & Ellis counseled Mill Point Capital LLC, a New York City-based private equity firm, on its final close of Mill Point Capital Partners III, L.P. (Fund III). With approximately $1.7 billion of total capital commitments closed in less than five months from launch, Fund III, consistent with its predecessor funds, was oversubscribed and closed at the hard cap. Mill Point targets value-oriented, control investments in lower middle-market companies across the business services, industrials and IT services sectors throughout North America. Read Mill Point’s press release The Kirkland team included investment funds lawyers Kevin Wessel, John Muno, Michael Black, Wes Gangi, Alice Palkovitz, Chris Stoj, Daisy An, Reed Schuster and Danielle Sartain; and tax lawyers Dan Meehan and Chris Odell.

Oct 11

1 min

London – Sidley is pleased to announce that Stephen Fox and Peter Boulle have joined Sidley’s Investment Funds practice group in London. They join Sidley from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where they were both partners in the firm’s Private Funds group. Mr. Fox and Mr. Boulle join the Private Funds team in London shortly after the arrival of Ed Gander. The team joins an extensive cross-practice funds group in London (including partners Oren Gertner, Blake Fillion, and EU/UK financial services and regulatory funds head Leonard Ng) offering a fully integrated platform for clients. Mr. Fox and Mr. Boulle’s practices focus on advising fund managers on their capital raising activities across asset classes, including private equity, venture capital, infrastructure and energy, real estate, and credit. In addition, they advise on the full spectrum of matters arising throughout the lifecycle of the funds and other investment arrangements that their clients manage, including co-investment arrangements and GP-led secondary transactions. They also advise sponsors on the establishment and operation of their team carried interest and co-investment schemes, as well as other key “house” transactions and arrangements, such as GP-stake or asset manager M&A transactions, and the set-up of new fund management businesses. “We are excited to welcome both Stephen and Peter to the firm, and to our London office, which has seen transformational growth with onboarding new clients and deepening client relationships as we add premier partner talent across our platform”, said Yvette Ostolaza, chair of Sidley’s Management Committee. “Stephen and Peter join forces again with Ed Gander as we continue to invest and build out our premier platform for private fund clients.” “Growing our work with sponsor clients is a strategic priority for the firm. By adding Stephen and Peter in London, and most recently John Muno in Chicago, Matt Eapen in Boston, and Shane Goudey in Palo Alto, we underline that commitment and continue our focus in supporting clients with their most complex and strategic matters,” said Brian Fahrney, chair of Sidley’s Executive Committee. “Stephen and Peter bring substantial commercial experience and deep sector knowledge in private equity fund formation and together with Ed Gander have a strong client following that will greatly benefit from onboarding onto our platform and working with our lawyers.” Sidley has made a number of significant additions in London over the last 12 months with a group of eight Leveraged Finance partners led by Jay Sadanandan and Sam Hamilton, including Fergus O’Domhnaill, Joe Kimberling, Ben Wright, and Tania Bedi and High Yield partners Scott Colwell and Patrick Kwak. They were recently joined by Global Capital Markets partners David Stewart and Vladimir Mikhailovsky. The office also added AI and Tech partner Clive Gringras. Sidley has a premier, global practice in structuring and advising asset management businesses. The Investment Funds practice group serves virtually every type of investment fund and asset manager, as well as many other market participants. The group has approximately 130 corporate, securities, and derivatives lawyers dedicated to investment funds, investment management, and derivatives work worldwide, and works closely with our sophisticated tax, benefits, regulatory, enforcement, and other related practices. Sidley is an elite global law firm. With approximately 2,300 lawyers and nearly 160 years of experience, we have established a reputation for deploying innovative legal strategies to achieve powerful results for our clients in complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters. Our perspective and reach are truly global, supported by 21 offices strategically situated in key commercial, regulatory, and financial centers across the world. Our lawyers and business professionals, fluent in more than 75 languages, possess the cultural awareness and cross-border legal acumen needed to bring clarity to a dynamic business landscape. Matt Messinger, Director, Public Relations, +1 312 456 4009 Daniel Kulcsar, Senior PR Manager, +44 207 360 2513 (Europe & Asia) Attorney Advertising—Sidley Austin LLP is a global law firm. Our addresses and contact information can be found at www.sidley.com/en/locations/offices. Sidley and Sidley Austin refer to Sidley Austin LLP and affiliated partnerships as explained at www.sidley.com/disclaimer.~~London – Sidley is pleased to announce that Stephen Fox and Peter Boulle have joined Sidley’s Investment Funds practice group in London. They join Sidley from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where they were both partners in the firm’s Private Funds group. Mr. Fox and Mr. Boulle join the Private Funds team in London shortly after the arrival of Ed Gander. The team joins an extensive cross-practice funds group in London (including partners Oren Gertner, Blake Fillion, and EU/UK financial services and regulatory funds head Leonard Ng) offering a fully integrated platform for clients. Mr. Fox and Mr. Boulle’s practices focus on advising fund managers on their capital raising activities across asset classes, including private equity, venture capital, infrastructure and energy, real estate, and credit. In addition, they advise on the full spectrum of matters arising throughout the lifecycle of the funds and other investment arrangements that their clients manage, including co-investment arrangements and GP-led secondary transactions. They also advise sponsors on the establishment and operation of their team carried interest and co-investment schemes, as well as other key “house” transactions and arrangements, such as GP-stake or asset manager M&A transactions, and the set-up of new fund management businesses. “We are excited to welcome both Stephen and Peter to the firm, and to our London office, which has seen transformational growth with onboarding new clients and deepening client relationships as we add premier partner talent across our platform”, said Yvette Ostolaza, chair of Sidley’s Management Committee. “Stephen and Peter join forces again with Ed Gander as we continue to invest and build out our premier platform for private fund clients.” “Growing our work with sponsor clients is a strategic priority for the firm. By adding Stephen and Peter in London, and most recently John Muno in Chicago, Matt Eapen in Boston, and Shane Goudey in Palo Alto, we underline that commitment and continue our focus in supporting clients with their most complex and strategic matters,” said Brian Fahrney, chair of Sidley’s Executive Committee. “Stephen and Peter bring substantial commercial experience and deep sector knowledge in private equity fund formation and together with Ed Gander have a strong client following that will greatly benefit from onboarding onto our platform and working with our lawyers.” Sidley has made a number of significant additions in London over the last 12 months with a group of eight Leveraged Finance partners led by Jay Sadanandan and Sam Hamilton, including Fergus O’Domhnaill, Joe Kimberling, Ben Wright, and Tania Bedi and High Yield partners Scott Colwell and Patrick Kwak. They were recently joined by Global Capital Markets partners David Stewart and Vladimir Mikhailovsky. The office also added AI and Tech partner Clive Gringras. Sidley has a premier, global practice in structuring and advising asset management businesses. The Investment Funds practice group serves virtually every type of investment fund and asset manager, as well as many other market participants. The group has approximately 130 corporate, securities, and derivatives lawyers dedicated to investment funds, investment management, and derivatives work worldwide, and works closely with our sophisticated tax, benefits, regulatory, enforcement, and other related practices. Sidley is an elite global law firm. With approximately 2,300 lawyers and nearly 160 years of experience, we have established a reputation for deploying innovative legal strategies to achieve powerful results for our clients in complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters. Our perspective and reach are truly global, supported by 21 offices strategically situated in key commercial, regulatory, and financial centers across the world. Our lawyers and business professionals, fluent in more than 75 languages, possess the cultural awareness and cross-border legal acumen needed to bring clarity to a dynamic business landscape. Matt Messinger, Director, Public Relations, +1 312 456 4009 Daniel Kulcsar, Senior PR Manager, +44 207 360 2513 (Europe & Asia) Attorney Advertising—Sidley Austin LLP is a global law firm. Our addresses and contact information can be found at www.sidley.com/en/locations/offices. Sidley and Sidley Austin refer to Sidley Austin LLP and affiliated partnerships as explained at www.sidley.com/disclaimer.

Nov 24

6 min

Sidley Austin has hired three investment funds partners from Clifford Chance in New York, continuing its aggressive hiring strategy. The firm is bringing in partners Cliff Cone, Michael Sabin and Dan Drabkin into its investment funds group as it continues to build out the practice in the city. At Clifford Chance, Cone and Sabin were co-heads of the firm’s U.S. funds and investment management practice. Cone spent nearly 13 years at Clifford Chance, according to his LinkedIn profile, and Sabin joined the firm in 2017. A recent Law.com analysis found that Clifford Chance reported £385 million in Americas revenue in 2025, up from £332 million the previous year, making the region its third-largest after Europe and Asia-Pacific. Brian Fahrney, chair of Sidley’s executive committee, said the hires bring experience in the funds space and relationships with investment funds and asset managers. The additions come as Sidley has made a series of hires to strengthen its investment funds capabilities. Recent arrivals include Shane Goudey in Palo Alto, who leads the venture funds practice; John Muno in Chicago, who leads the private equity funds practice; Mathew Eapen in Boston, who focuses on venture capital, growth equity, and technology- and healthcare-focused funds; and Ed Gander, Stephen Fox and Peter Boulle in London, who advise global fund managers across private equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit and secondaries funds. For Clifford Chance, the firm added Sheelka Arora-Cox in New York from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman as a partner in its energy and infrastructure finance team, supporting its renewables and project finance practice as well as private equity partner Andrea Gede-Lange from Fried Frank in September 2025. In January 2026 the firm added partner Alexandra Diehl, along with her 14 strong team who are joining the firm’s Frankfurt office from White & Case. A Clifford Chance spokesperson said: "We thank Michael, Cliff and Dan for their contributions to the firm and wish them well for the future."

Jan 20

1 min