Key Takeaways
- • Willkie Farr & Gallagher has recruited Miroslav Tomo, a corporate M&A partner specializing in private equity, real estate, and infrastructure from Kirkland & Ellis, marking another senior-level departure from the white-shoe firm.
- • The hire represents part of a broader pattern of Willkie Farr poaching private equity-focused partners from Kirkland & Ellis, signaling competitive pressure in the elite legal market for specialized M&A and PE advisory talent.
- • Willkie Farr is executing an aggressive London expansion strategy by recruiting established partners with deep institutional relationships and sector expertise rather than building organically.
- • Kirkland & Ellis, the New York-headquartered elite firm, is experiencing recurring departures of senior private equity practitioners to a direct competitor, indicating potential challenges in partner retention within its PE practice group.
Summary
Willkie Farr & Gallagher has hired Miroslav Tomo as a partner in its corporate and financial advisory practice, recruiting the experienced M&A professional from Kirkland & Ellis's private equity, real estate, and infrastructure division. The move underscores an intensifying competition for specialized PE-focused talent among the world's most prestigious law firms and reflects Willkie Farr's deliberate strategy to strengthen its presence in the London market through established partner hires.
Tomo's departure from Kirkland follows a documented pattern of senior private equity partners transitioning from the New York-headquartered firm to Willkie Farr. The competitive poaching activity extends beyond a single hire, with multiple Kirkland partners in M&A and corporate advisory roles joining Willkie's ranks over recent periods. This pattern suggests systematic competitive positioning rather than isolated departures, with Willkie targeting practitioners who bring established client relationships and deep transactional experience in PE advisory.
Willkie Farr's London expansion strategy prioritizes recruiting proven partners over organic growth, a common tactic among elite legal firms seeking rapid market penetration in competitive jurisdictions. By recruiting experienced practitioners from rivals like Kirkland, Willkie gains immediate access to these partners' institutional networks and existing deal flow without the time investment required for junior lawyer development.
For institutional investors and PE sponsors, these partner movements carry tangible implications. Continuity of counsel relationships often depends on individual practitioners rather than firm affiliations alone, meaning clients may face decisions about whether to follow partners to new firms or maintain institutional relationships with their original counsel. The recurring loss of PE specialists from Kirkland's practice may also signal competitive pressure within the firm's partnership structure or differing strategic priorities around compensation and equity partner advancement.
Tomo's departure from Kirkland follows a documented pattern of senior private equity partners transitioning from the New York-headquartered firm to Willkie Farr. The competitive poaching activity extends beyond a single hire, with multiple Kirkland partners in M&A and corporate advisory roles joining Willkie's ranks over recent periods. This pattern suggests systematic competitive positioning rather than isolated departures, with Willkie targeting practitioners who bring established client relationships and deep transactional experience in PE advisory.
Willkie Farr's London expansion strategy prioritizes recruiting proven partners over organic growth, a common tactic among elite legal firms seeking rapid market penetration in competitive jurisdictions. By recruiting experienced practitioners from rivals like Kirkland, Willkie gains immediate access to these partners' institutional networks and existing deal flow without the time investment required for junior lawyer development.
For institutional investors and PE sponsors, these partner movements carry tangible implications. Continuity of counsel relationships often depends on individual practitioners rather than firm affiliations alone, meaning clients may face decisions about whether to follow partners to new firms or maintain institutional relationships with their original counsel. The recurring loss of PE specialists from Kirkland's practice may also signal competitive pressure within the firm's partnership structure or differing strategic priorities around compensation and equity partner advancement.
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