Rachael G. Coffey, P.C.

Kirkland & Ells advised Ziff Davis, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZD) on a definitive agreement to sell its Connectivity division to Accenture (NYSE: ACN) for $1.2 billion in cash. Ziff Davis’ Connectivity brands are globally recognized in fixed broadband, mobile and Wi-Fi network design, intelligence, insights, testing and incident detection. These brands, including Ookla, Speedtest, Ekahau, Downdetector and RootMetrics, empower organizations to optimize networks, elevate digital experiences and ensure faster, more reliable connectivity. The transaction is currently expected to close in the coming months, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions and receipt of required regulatory approvals. Read the transaction press release The Kirkland team included corporate lawyers David Klein, Andrew Norwich and Daniel Wolf; tax lawyer Sara Zablotney; executive compensation lawyer Rob Fowler; capital markets lawyers Sophia Hudson and Zoey Hitzert; antitrust & competition lawyer Daniel Zach; and technology & IP transactions lawyer Daisy Darvall.

Mar 3

1 min

Westchester Surplus Lines Insurance Co. and multiple Florida homeowners associations have ended their dispute in Florida federal court over the associations' more than $230 million insurance claim for Pensacola Beach condominiums damaged by Hurricane Sally. According to their joint dismissal stipulation filed Monday, Westchester Surplus and the homeowners associations have agreed to permanently dismiss their claims against each other. The insurer and the homeowners associations initially told the court in February that they decided to settle their dispute and planned to file a joint dismissal stipulation. Westchester Surplus and 15 other insurers began their suit against the homeowners associations in January 2023. According to their amended suit, an appraiser picked by the defendants filed "an egregiously overinflated" hurricane damages claim for more than $230 million. The insurers alleged that the defendants asked for an appraisal after Hurricane Sally hit and filed a more than $6.4 million sworn proof of loss claim. But, according to the insurers, this claim eventually "ballooned to an amount wholly detached from any actual damage resulting from the hurricane." "In particular, the defendants' selected appraiser submitted estimates to the appraisal panel that include charges that are wholly improper, overstated, unrelated, duplicative, and attempt to turn the defendants' legitimate loss into a once-in-a-lifetime windfall at plaintiffs' expense," the insurers alleged. "Defendants' appraiser increased the value of the claim from the unsolicited sworn proof of loss by over $225 million when he submitted an outrageous $233,030,601.80 claim to the appraisal panel, which raises significant questions concerning the appraiser's interest and honesty, as well as the fraudulent nature of the claim and its supporting documentation," they further alleged. In September 2023, the defendants filed counterclaims against the insurers, alleging that the insurers breached their insurance policies by wrongfully refusing to pay for the appraised hurricane damage. However, in September 2025, the presiding court nixed the defendants' $187 million appraisal award, ruling that the defendants' appraiser failed to properly state how much the condominiums were damaged by Hurricane Sally. Counsel for Westchester Surplus and the defendants didn't respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Westchester Surplus Lines Insurance Co. and multiple other insurers are represented by Alexandra J. Schultz, Juan P. Garrido and John D. Dickenson of Cozen O'Connor. The Portofino defendants are represented by Edward P. Fleming, Matthew A. Bush and Aaron T. McCurdy of McDonald Fleming LLP, Kurtis J. Keefer of Goede DeBoest & Cross PLLC and Charles F. Beall Jr. of Moore Hill & Westmoreland PA. The case is Westchester Surplus Lines Insurance Co. et al. v. Portofino Masters Homeowners Association Inc. et al., case number 3:23-cv-00453, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

Mar 3

2 min

Kirkland & Ellis advised BTIG, LLC, a financial services firm specializing in investment banking, institutional sales and trading, research and prime brokerage, on a definitive agreement to be sold to U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB). The transaction was announced January 13, 2026 and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and satisfaction of applicable closing conditions. The targeted consideration for the transaction is up to $1 billion, with a target purchase price of $725 million ($362.5 million of cash and 6,600,594 shares of common stock) to be paid at closing. There is up to an additional $275 million of cash consideration payable over three years, subject to achievement of defined performance targets. Read the transaction press release The Kirkland team included corporate lawyers Rachael Coffey, Christopher Gandia, Peter Martelli, Jimin He and Eli Markham; and capital markets lawyer Christian Nagler.

Jan 13

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis advised Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), the world’s third largest automaker, on its agreement with Aptiv PLC (NYSE: APTV), a global technology company, to acquire a majority interest in Motional, the companies’ Boston-headquartered, $4 billion autonomous driving joint venture. As part of the transaction, Hyundai Motor Company (KRX: 005380), Kia Corporation (KRX: 000270) and Hyundai Mobis (KRX: 012330) will collectively invest an aggregate of $475 million in exchange for newly issued Motional common equity interests and will acquire an additional 11% of Motional’s common equity interests from Aptiv for $448 million. In addition, Aptiv will exchange an additional approximately 21% of Motional’s common equity interests for Motional preferred equity. At closing, HMG and Aptiv will hold approximately 85% and 15% of Motional’s common equity, respectively. The transaction is expected to close by the end of Q3 2024, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. The Kirkland team, working closely together with leading Korean law firm Kim & Chang, was led by corporate partners Edward Lee and Rachael G. Coffey and associate Alex Adamis, with support from corporate partner Jimin He.

May 8

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis advised Quantum Health, the leading creator of healthcare navigation, on the acquisition of CirrusMD, a premier on-demand virtual care company. The acquisition brings together navigation and physician-led virtual care to drive more immediate care integration and stronger outcomes for members across their healthcare journey. This acquisition builds on Quantum Health’s momentum expanding clinically-validated provider steerage through Embold Health and launching its expanded solution suite built on a new agentic AI platform, further strengthening the company’s ability to act earlier, guide members more effectively and deliver measurable savings. Quantum Health is a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus and Great Hill Partners. Read the transaction press release The Kirkland team included corporate lawyers Keri Schick Norton and Alice Billmire; technology & IP transactions lawyer Daisy Darvall; healthcare transactions lawyer Robert Kantrowitz; and tax lawyers David Grenker and Vivek Ratnam.

Mar 3

1 min