
Debt Finance
Banking & Finance
Acquisition & Leveraged Finance
Real Estate Finance
Karen Ho is a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis in the Hong Kong office, specializing in debt finance. With a focus on advising global private equity sponsors and strategic investors, she has extensive experience in cross-border leveraged financings, real estate financings, structured financings, and margin financings across the region. Karen has been recognized as an “Up and Coming” lawyer for Banking & Finance by Chambers Greater China and is highly regarded in leveraged finance by IFLR1000. She is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, and has previously worked with HSBC and KKR Credit in Hong Kong.
Corporate Restructuring and Financing
Private Equity and Leveraged Buyouts
Real Estate and Investment Fund Transactions
Mergers and Acquisitions

- Centurium Capital, Temasek and True Light acquired the target/assets from ANE (Cayman) Inc. in a take-private on not available. - Deal value was 1840000000 Sector: Logistics; Location: Global. - On the acquirer side, counsel was not available, led by Joey Chau, Brian Ho, Leo Zhou, Jiayi Wang, Sherry Fu, Jacqueline Zheng, Karen Ho, Sean Zhang, Aleks Bakic, Jennifer Feng, Jerry Choi, Nicole Yang, Alasdair Balfour, Mark Gardner, Michael Thorpe.
Oct 29 2025
2B
Private Equity

Partner
2018 – Unknown
Associate
2016 – 2018
Secondee - Leveraged and Acquisition Finance
2015 – 2016


- Knight Bidco Limited acquired the target/assets from not available in a privatization on not available. - Deal value was 1400000000 Sector: Healthcare; Location: not available. - On the acquirer side, not available advised, led by Manas Chandrashekar, Karen Ho, Sean Zhang, Ryan Chan.
Aug 15 2025
1B
Finance
Kirkland & Ellis represented The Carlyle Group in connection with its proposed acquisition of KFC Holdings Japan, Ltd. (9873.T), the operator of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fast-food franchise in Japan, together with the related long term franchise arrangements with brand owner, Yum! Brands. Mitsubishi Corporation (8058.T), the largest shareholder of KFC Holdings Japan, Ltd., announced separately that it would tender all of its shares in connection with the launched offer. The Kirkland team was led by corporate partner Jesse Sheley and technology & IP transactions partner Jeffery Norman; together with support from corporate partners Pierre-Luc Arsenault and Maurice Conway; and technology & IP transactions partner Min Wang. Additional transaction support was provided by corporate registered foreign lawyer Jiayi Wang and technology & IP transactions associate Rob Patrignani. The broader team for the transaction also included debt finance partners Manas Chandrashekar and Karen Ho; tax partner Mike Carew; government, regulatory & internal investigations partner Jodi Wu; and litigation partner Fergus Saurin.
May 24

1 min
Associate
2012 – 2016
Trainee Solicitor
2010 – 2012