James Mayne

Kirkland & Ellis advised Lead Edge Capital, a growth equity firm investing in software, internet and tech-enabled businesses globally, on a strategic minority investment in its business by funds managed by Bonaccord Capital Partners. Bonaccord’s investment and strategic development platform will support Lead Edge’s value creation initiatives and further growth. Read the transaction press release The Kirkland team was led by investment funds partners Michael Reeves and James Mayne and included investment funds partner Daniel Lavon-Krein and associates Tarah Sullivan, Todd Melchior and Eric Duncan; and tax partners Lee Morlock and Steven Cantor and associate Meena Kandallu.

Apr 22

1 min

Kirkland advised Blue Owl Capital (NYSE: OWL) on a definitive agreement to acquire the business of alternative credit manager Atalaya Capital Management LP. Atalaya originates and purchases credit and asset-based investments across corporate, real estate and specialty finance. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. Read Blue Owl’s press release The team was led by asset management M&A partners Christopher Gandia and James Mayne and corporate partners Rick Campbell and Eric Sweigard, with assistance from corporate associates Raisa Moree and Brian Campbell; capital markets partners Pippa Bond and Tommy Felix; investment funds partners Rob Blaustein, Sheldon Laing and Andrew Jacobs; tax partners Mike Carew, Liam Murphy and Meredith Levy; and debt finance partner Aditi Iyer.

Jul 19

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis is advising investment firm Wendel on a definitive partnership agreement relating to a strategic investment, which includes the acquisition of 75% of Monroe Capital LLC, a sponsoring program of up to $800 million to accelerate Monroe Capital’s growth and a GP commitment for up to $200 million. Wendel will pay $1.13 billion at the closing. Monroe management will continue to own 25% of the company post-closing. The transaction will dramatically expand Wendel’s asset management platform and rebalance its business model towards more recurring cash flows and growth and follows Wendel’s recent acquisition of IK Partners, a European leader in middle market private equity, as it seeks to build a scaled third-party asset management platform. The transaction is subject to satisfaction of closing conditions and receipt of regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025. Read the transaction press release The Kirkland team included asset management M&A lawyers Christopher Gandia, Daniel Lavon-Krein, James Mayne and Christopher Simpson; corporate lawyers Valentine Bleicher, Vincent Ponsonnaille and Louis Gosset; and tax lawyers Nadine Gelli and Lee Morlock.

Oct 22

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis is advising alternatives asset manager Castlelake L.P. on a strategic partnership with Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) in which Brookfield is purchasing a 51% stake in Castlelake’s fee-related earnings. The amount of capital to be invested will be approximately $1.5 billion, including capital to be invested in Castlelake’s investment strategies by Brookfield Reinsurance. Castlelake will continue to operate its business independently, retaining its current governance and leadership structure and will retain majority ownership of its performance-related earnings. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024. Read the transaction press release The Kirkland team is being led by asset management M&A partners Christopher Gandia, Carlo Zenkner, James Mayne and Daniel Lavon-Krein; tax partners Mark Schwed and Joseph Tootle; investment funds partners David Sherman, Stefan Paulovic, Alpa Patel, Daniel Kahl and Samuel Weber; antitrust & competition partner Matthew Sinclair-Thompson; and financial services regulatory partners Lisa Cawley and Thomas Woodhead.

May 6

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis advised P10, a leading private markets solutions provider, on its definitive agreement to acquire Stellus Capital Management, LLC, a U.S. direct lender specializing in senior secured loans in the lower-middle market. Read P10’s press release The Kirkland team included corporate lawyers Rami Totari, James Mayne and William Mabry; tax lawyer Joseph Tootle; and investment funds lawyers Robert Blaustein, Amanda Katlowitz Strickler and Jason Monfort.

Feb 5

1 min