S&C steps up private equity push with four-partner Kirkland raid

Sullivan & Cromwell has hired four private equity M&A partners from Kirkland & Ellis in a major team move as it steps up its push into US sponsor work.

Partners Hamed Meshki, Luke Guerra, Guirgis Nasief and Y. Michael Chung are joining S&C's New York and Los Angeles offices.

Meshki will become global head of S&C's private equity practice and co-lead its Los Angeles office alongside Patrick Brown.

The firm said the appointments form part of its strategy to expand its US and global private equity business amid its recent build-out in London.

Kirkland quartet

Meshki advises private equity firms, asset managers and companies on M&A, leveraged buyouts, restructurings, recapitalisations and financings. His practice spans sectors including healthcare, technology, energy, consumer products and media and entertainment.

S&C co-chairs Robert Giuffra and Scott Miller said the group hire “accelerates the growth of our US and global private equity practice following our recent build-out in London”.

They added that Meshki and Guerra had built “market-leading private equity practices and longstanding relationships with leading financial sponsors”.

'World class platform'

Meshki said S&C's commitment to building “a world-class platform for the representation of private equity and alternative asset management clients globally” made the move a compelling opportunity.

S&C has recruited a raft of senior lawyers in London in the past year. The hires include restructuring partner Kon Asimacopoulos from Kirkland, former Weil London managing partner Mike Francies, private equity partner Aprajita Dhundia and tax partner Ian Ferreira from Kirkland, as well as leveraged finance partners Chris McLaughlin and Alastair McVeigh from Weil.