Dr. Benjamin Leyendecker

Kirkland & Ellis announced today that private equity lawyer Sebastian Pitz will join the Firm as a partner based in the Frankfurt office. “Sebastian is one of the leading young partners in the German market with significant experience advising on complex alternative capital transactions,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “We’re very excited that Sebastian is joining our stellar team in Germany.” Mr. Pitz advises leading global private equity firms, energy and infrastructure funds, growth funds and financial institutions on the planning and execution of private M&A transactions, growth, minority and co-investments, public takeovers, joint ventures, disposals and other complex transactions. “Sebastian is an exceptional lawyer who embodies a perfect blend of skill, talent and a proactive mindset,” said Benjamin Leyendecker, a corporate partner in Kirkland’s Munich office. “His addition marks a significant step forward in enhancing our Frankfurt office and expanding our presence in Germany.” Mr. Pitz is frequently recommended for private equity, M&A and corporate law by JUVE. He joins Kirkland from White & Case, where he was a partner. Mr. Pitz is the latest partner to join Kirkland in Germany. Kirkland announced last month that private equity/M&A partners Dr. Tobias Larisch and Florian Sippel and restructuring partners Dr. Christian Halàsz and Friedrich Schlott had joined. The Firm announced the opening of a new office in Frankfurt in early August.

Oct 7

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis is excited to announce that Dr. Christian Halàsz and Friedrich Schlott will join the Firm as partners in the Restructuring Practice. Dr. Halàsz and Mr. Schlott will be based in both Munich and Frankfurt, where Kirkland recently announced it would open a new office to support its growing business in Germany. “Christian and Friedrich bring decades of experience to our premier Restructuring practice,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “As we continue investing in the areas that matter most to our clients, we’re excited to welcome preeminent lawyers like Christian and Friedrich to our German team.” Dr. Halàsz’s practice focuses on cross-border and domestic financial restructurings, workouts, insolvency and multijurisdictional collateral enforcement. He advises clients on strategic and legal issues related to distressed debt and special situations and has experience across sectors including automotive, telecommunications, packaging, paper, transport, mining and energy. He represents hedge funds, bondholders, institutional lenders, secondary market investors, creditor committees and domestic and international companies. Mr. Schlott has extensive experience in restructuring, insolvency-related corporate law and insolvency law, including in-court and out-of-court restructuring, and regularly advises stakeholders across the capital structure and from various business sectors. “Christian and Friedrich are outstanding lawyers with experience handling complex financial restructuring matters in Germany and throughout Europe,” said Benjamin Leyendecker, a partner in Kirkland’s Munich office. “They are dynamic and team-oriented individuals who will thrive on the Kirkland platform, and we are excited to welcome them to the Firm.” Both lawyers will join Kirkland from law firm Gleiss Lutz, where Dr. Halàsz is a partner and Mr. Schlott is a counsel. Dr. Halàsz and Mr. Schlott are the latest partners to join Kirkland in Germany. Earlier this month, the Firm announced leading M&A attorney Dr. Tobias Larisch would join as it launched an office in Frankfurt, it’s second location in Germany. Kirkland has operated in Munich for nearly two decades. In 2023, leading restructuring lawyer Cristina Weidner joined the Munich office as a partner.

Aug 27

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis has advised Oakley Capital on the acquisition of a majority stake in Konzept & Marketing (K&M), a leading, independent Managing General Agent (MGA) in the German personal non-life insurance market. Oakley Capital is investing alongside insurance veteran Joachim Müller (former CEO of Allianz Commercial), who will serve as future Chairman of K&M and work closely with the existing K&M management team. The transaction is expected to complete in Q4 2024. Read Oakley Capital’s press release The Kirkland team included corporate lawyers Maximilian Liegl, Benjamin Leyendecker, Sophia Probst and Maximilian Licht.

Nov 25

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis has bolstered its European corporate practice with the hire of Sebastian Heim, who joins as partner across its Munich and London offices. Heim, a Milbank London partner, has advised on deals including Carlyle’s €7.7 billion ($8.9 billion) acquisition of BASF’s coating business and General Atlantic’s $5.7 billion public offering of SMG Swiss Marketing Group, at the time the largest European IPO of the year. Heim joined Milbank in 2011 as an associate, according to his LinkedIn. “Sebastian is one of the go-to private equity lawyers in Germany,” said Jon A. Ballis, chairman of Kirkland’s executive committee. Heim’s regularly advises clients on corporate law, M&A, and growth equity matters. “Sebastian is an extraordinary lawyer with a stellar reputation,” said Benjamin Leyendecker, a corporate partner in Kirkland’s Munich office. The move comes just 18 months after Kirkland opened its Frankfurt office in August 2024. The hub cooperates closely with Kirkland's Munich office, which has been described by Leyendecker as “key pillar of our strategy”. Heim is joining the Munich office, which has 17 partners listed on Kirkland’s website. Kirkland saw record lateral hires and partner promotions globally in 2025 alongside seven lateral hires in Germany since opening in Frankfurt. Kirkland’s German partners have also been in demand elsewhere, however, with former restructuring partner Leo Plank moving to Gibson Dunn in February. Milbank has been contacted for comment.

Mar 3

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis has advised funds advised by Triton (“Triton”) on the agreement to acquire the security and communications technology product business (“BSCT”) from Bosch Group (“Bosch”). The transaction is subject to the fulfillment of customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed by the end of H1 2025. BSCT offers solutions in the areas of video surveillance, access and intrusion control as well as professional communication. The company has around 4,300 employees worldwide and generates more than €1 billion in revenues. Read Triton’s press release The Kirkland team included corporate lawyers Tobias Larisch, Benjamin Leyendecker, Sebastian Häfele, Tom Bartram, Andrew McAlpine, Tamara Zehentbauer, Philipp Poitiers, Merle Müller, Michael Dunton, Dov Seifman, Jamie Manson, Charles Hébert and Simran Johal; tax lawyers Michael Ehret and Florian Schütte; debt finance lawyer Alexander Längsfeld; technology & IP transactions lawyers Emma Flett, Jenny Wilson, Stephen Coudounaris and Calum Parfitt; antitrust & competition lawyers Sally Evans and Jessica Ouchai; litigation lawyer Patrick Navein; and environmental lawyers Jonathan Kidwell, Mary-Michael Robertson and Thomas Boynton.

Dec 12

1 min