Willkie Farr & Gallagher hires top PE lawyer as partner

Willkie Farr & Gallagher said Thursday that it has named Kirk A. Radke as a partner in the firm’s private equity practice group. A top private equity lawyer, Radke will be based in the firm’s New York office. Willkie Farr & Gallagher is an international law firm with approximately 600 attorneys.

PRESS RELEASE

New York, NY (December 5, 2013) — Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced that Kirk A. Radke will be joining the firm’s Private Equity Practice Group as a partner in New York.
Kirk, recognized as one of the country’s leading private equity practitioners, comes to Willkie with an international reputation for his private equity expertise, deal making experience, industry knowledge and relationships. Kirk has an extensive and well known track record representing numerous private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies.
“Kirk is recognized internationally as a thought leader in the field. Kirk’s joining Willkie further strengthens our private equity platform, which we believe is now recognized by clients and practitioners as one of the very best in the United States and Europe. The addition of Kirk highlights our ongoing commitment to providing the highest level of excellence for our clients,” said Steven Gartner, Co-Chairman of the firm.
“The increasingly complex and sophisticated nature of the private equity environment requires an integrated and focused approach in order to help clients gain a competitive advantage. Willkie’s deep experience, market credibility, and integrated approach to private equity deal making, regulation and fund formation provides that advantage. I am pleased to be joining a group of entrepreneurial minded colleagues and a firm that is highly regarded in the private equity business globally,” said Mr. Radke.
“The addition of Kirk caps off a stellar year for our private equity practice,” added Gordon Caplan, Chairman of Willkie’s Private Equity Practice Group.
Willkie’s international network of private equity specialists collaborate to provide comprehensive legal services to clients. We actively represent more than 75 U.S. and international private equity sponsors and more than 200 portfolio companies and management teams across a broad range of industries.
Select leveraged buyouts and private equity transactions handled by Willkie in 2013 include representing Hudson’s Bay Company in its $2.9 billion leveraged cross-border acquisition of Saks Incorporated; Insight Venture Partners in the closing of Insight’s recent $2.57 billion private equity fund; Pearl Therapeutics in its $1.15 billion sale to AstraZeneca; Rockwood Holdings, Inc. in its $1.98 billion sale of CeramTec to Cinven; Brookfield Property Partners in its $1.4 billion investment in GGP; and Warburg Pincus in the closing of its recent $11.2 billion global fund.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an international law firm of approximately 600 attorneys with offices in New York, Washington, Paris, London, Milan, Rome, Frankfurt and Brussels. The firm is headquartered in New York City at 787 Seventh Avenue. Tel: 212.728.8000.