Sean J. Hill

Sean is a corporate partner in Kirkland’s Investment Funds Group who focuses on representation of investment managers in all aspects of their business and operations, with a particular emphasis on formation of private investment funds, and in structuring and execution of secondary transactions. He is described by clients in Chambers USA as “clearly a gem” who is “hands-on, precise and articulate” and “very practical and business-minded.” Chambers Global labeled him an “absolute rockstar” who is “very pragmatic, responsive and very attuned to his clients’ particular needs.” Sean works with both emerging managers and established, multi-strategy firms managing over $100 billion in assets. Sean attracts great praise for his work with sponsors on the formation of credit funds. “I regard him highly, he’s a good competent lawyer,” says a peer. Clients appreciate that Sean has “incredible intellectual capacity, finds solutions and gets things done.” He has notable strength in forming including credit funds and other private equity vehicles.

He counsels sponsors located or operating in North America, Europe and Asia in the formation of private funds investing in numerous sectors and pursuing a wide variety of strategies, including buyout, private credit, distressed and special situations, liquid credit, venture and growth capital, secondaries and fund of funds, as well as hybrid structures, funds of one and separate accounts.

Sean also works with fund sponsors to structure firm ownership and operations, succession planning and executive transitions, and incentive arrangements. He has also advised on numerous transactions involving alternative investment managers, including seed capital, minority and strategic investments, joint ventures, acquisitions and IPOs.

For more than 15 years, he has worked with clients on all types of secondary transactions, including direct secondaries, highly structured and synthetic transactions, large portfolios, preferred equity positions, leveraged secondaries and fund liquidations. Sean has advised on several multibillion-dollar secondary transactions and has extensive experience in spin-outs of assets and investment teams and in complex fund restructurings, having worked with GPs, buyers and limited partners.

Additionally, Sean represents institutional investors in review and negotiation of portfolio investments and financings, including investments in private equity, credit, energy, natural resources, special situations, venture capital and hedge funds as well as co-investments and managed accounts.

Before focusing on the investment management industry, Mr. Hill had a general corporate practice, working with private companies and financial sponsors on M&A transactions, venture financings, licensing and company formation. Prior to that, he worked on structured finance transactions, including CMBS and CLOs, and briefly practiced commercial litigation.