Kirkland & Ellis is pleased to announce that Raphaël Bloch will join the Firm as a partner in the European Investment Funds Group. Mr. Bloch advises investment fund sponsors on the establishment and operation of funds and separate accounts across the alternative asset spectrum including private equity, credit and real assets as well as on GP-led fund restructurings and other liquidity solutions transactions. He also has deep experience with the establishment of fund management companies, carried interest and co-investment schemes specific to France. “We are delighted Raphaël is joining Kirkland,” said Paris-based M&A partner Vincent Ponsonnaille. “He will be an extremely valuable addition as we continue to scale our private equity business in France.” London-based investment funds partner Christopher Braunack added: “Raphaël is a rare talent. Over the years he has built a stellar reputation in the French funds market among the fund sponsor and market intermediary communities. He was the standout choice for us to spearhead the expansion of our European investment funds practice into France.” London-based investment funds partner Richard Watkins added: “The French market continues to grow and evolve and we are confident that the addition of Raphaël to our group of over 20 investment fund partners in Europe will enable us to further capitalise on the opportunities that arise as a result.” Kirkland’s European investment funds practice has over 20 partners and advises many of Europe’s preeminent investment fund sponsors with respect to their fundraisings, ongoing fund-related matters (including liquidity solutions) and sponsor strategic transactions. The practice is a market leader in each of its core focuses — private equity, credit, real assets and liquidity solutions — and was awarded Private Equity Real Estate 2020 Law Firm of the Year for Fund Formation in Europe and Private Equity International 2020 Law Firm of the Year for both Fund Formation and Secondaries in Europe. About Kirkland & Ellis Kirkland & Ellis is an international law firm with more than 2,900 attorneys representing clients in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions, litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, restructuring, and intellectual property matters. The Firm operates from 17 offices around the world: Austin, Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.