Willkie Farr & Gallagher has become the latest firm to hire a partner from Kirkland & Ellis, bringing over corporate partner Sebastian Häfele in Munich, in the third exit from the Chicago-headquartered firm this week.
Häfele, who specialises in corporate M&A and private equity, spent nine years at Kirkland, where he made partner in 2021.
Previously, he has worked with clients such as Nordic Capital, co-leading on its acquisition of a majority share in medical technology company corpuls in 2023, and as an associate advised PE firm Yucaipa Companies on its investment in SIGNA Sports United, valued at $3.2bn.
The move marks Willkie’s continued investment in its German operations, where it now houses three offices in Frankfurt, Munich and the new Hamburg site, which opened in July of this year.
On his move, Häfele said: ‘Willkie has a top-ranked global private equity and transactional platform that is known for its collaborative, client-focused approach and well-established reputation in the German market. I am delighted to join this growing team of exceptional lawyers in Germany.’
Häfele’s departure follows PE partner Aprajita Dhundia and tax partner Ian Ferreira, who left Kirkland’s London office for Sullivan & Cromwell earlier this week.
Over in London, former head of Slaughter and May’s derivatives practice Oliver Wicker has found a home at Simmons & Simmons.
Wicker has acted for several high-profile clients, including advising Aviva on its disposal of a portfolio of equity release mortgages, Deutsche Bank AG on multiple loan portfolio sales, and Goldman Sachs as it arranged three sets of notes valued at $613m.
Michael Lorraine, head of Simmons’ financial markets and real estate practice and the UK structured finance and derivatives group, commented: ‘Oliver is a leading practitioner in structured finance and derivatives, with a track record advising on some of the most technically demanding transactions in the market. His arrival is a huge boost for our practice.’
She added: ‘His reputation for handling complex, bespoke work and his experience across the full range of structured finance and derivatives transactions will be invaluable as we continue to expand our offering.’
Wicker’s departure from Slaughters, where he began his legal career nearly two decades ago, was announced in the summer of this year. He will join the Simmons structured finance and derivatives team as partner on 2 January 2026.
Slaughters said in a statement: ‘We thank Oliver for his contribution to the firm and wish him well for the future.’
Elsewhere in the City, Mishcon de Reya has expanded its commercial real estate practice with the arrival of consultant Felicity Jones, who will co-chair the firm’s hotels group.
Jones will move from Watson Farley & Williams, where she spent 16 years as partner between 2009-2025, before she became a consultant in May this year. She has experience advising hotel owners on acquisitions, disposals and portfolio transactions in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
Chair of Mishcon’s real estate practice Stephen Hughes commented: ‘[Jones’] arrival strengthens our sophisticated, multi-disciplined team, which includes a market-leading disputes practice serving a wide range of institutions and individuals. Felicity’s experience will help us continue to deliver exceptional results for our clients as we build on our reputation for bold, creative, and commercially focused advice.’
Finally Ropes & Gray has welcomed finance counsel Niccolò Vernillo from Italian firm Chiomenti. Qualified in Italy and England and Wales, Vernillo joins Ropes’ Italian finance team . His practice focuses on acquisition and leverage finance across European markets.
Vernillo has worked in Chiomenti’s London office for the past five years, where he became a counsel in May this year.
