Key Takeaways
- • Kirkland & Ellis has rehired private equity lawyer Nelson Ni as a partner in Shanghai, returning to the firm after a stint as assistant general counsel at Warburg Pincus.
- • Ni previously advised Blackstone on its $1.6 billion acquisition of Interplex Holdings, which was indirectly owned by funds managed by Baring Private Equity Asia.
- • The hire comes amid significant partner turnover in Kirkland's Greater China offices, with Law.com International reporting 21 partners departed since January 2024.
- • Kirkland topped LSEG league tables for completed Asia ex-Japan M&A in the first nine months of 2026, advising on 17 deals worth a combined $46.4 billion, up from seventh place a year earlier.
Summary
Kirkland & Ellis has rehired private equity lawyer Nelson Ni as a partner in its Shanghai office, according to the firm's announcement. Ni had previously been a partner in Kirkland's Hong Kong and Shanghai offices before leaving in early 2025 to join Warburg Pincus, where he served as assistant general counsel advising on investments, portfolio company matters and strategic initiatives across Greater China and the Asia Pacific region.
Ni's practice covers M&A, growth investments, corporate carve-outs, take-private transactions and cross-border joint ventures across technology and financial services. He has advised Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group, Bain Capital, CICC, Hillhouse Investment and Warburg Pincus. During his earlier Kirkland tenure, he advised Blackstone on its $1.6 billion acquisition of Interplex Holdings, advised Power Heritage Group on the proposed privatization of Hong Kong-listed Jiangnan Group by scheme of arrangement, and advised COFCO Beverages on its acquisition of subsidiaries of Coca-Cola Bottlers Manufacturing Holdings. He was also involved in JD Property Group's take-private of China Logistics Property Holdings, one of the largest such transactions in 2021 by deal value.
Kirkland partner Mengyu Lu described Ni as bringing a combination of top-tier private practice and investor-side experience. Lu said the firm remains committed to Asia and that Ni's return reflects confidence in the region's long-term opportunities.
The rehire follows substantial turnover in Kirkland's Greater China practice. Law.com International reported in September 2025 that 21 partners had left the practice since January 2024, including partners who joined competing firms and three who moved in-house to investment funds including EQT and GLP Capital. Senior partners including David Eich, who helped establish the firm's first Asian office in Hong Kong in 2007, also retired. Kirkland has nonetheless kept its offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. Recent lateral hires include capital markets lawyer Ricky Chow from Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing and international arbitration partner Wilfred Ho from White & Case. Departures have continued, including corporate and finance partner Paul Guan, who joined Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, and private equity partner Peng Yu, who moved to Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
According to LSEG league tables, Kirkland ranked first among legal advisers for completed Asia ex-Japan M&A in the first nine months of 2026, advising on 17 completed transactions worth a combined $46.4 billion, up from seventh place in the comparable period last year.
Ni's practice covers M&A, growth investments, corporate carve-outs, take-private transactions and cross-border joint ventures across technology and financial services. He has advised Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group, Bain Capital, CICC, Hillhouse Investment and Warburg Pincus. During his earlier Kirkland tenure, he advised Blackstone on its $1.6 billion acquisition of Interplex Holdings, advised Power Heritage Group on the proposed privatization of Hong Kong-listed Jiangnan Group by scheme of arrangement, and advised COFCO Beverages on its acquisition of subsidiaries of Coca-Cola Bottlers Manufacturing Holdings. He was also involved in JD Property Group's take-private of China Logistics Property Holdings, one of the largest such transactions in 2021 by deal value.
Kirkland partner Mengyu Lu described Ni as bringing a combination of top-tier private practice and investor-side experience. Lu said the firm remains committed to Asia and that Ni's return reflects confidence in the region's long-term opportunities.
The rehire follows substantial turnover in Kirkland's Greater China practice. Law.com International reported in September 2025 that 21 partners had left the practice since January 2024, including partners who joined competing firms and three who moved in-house to investment funds including EQT and GLP Capital. Senior partners including David Eich, who helped establish the firm's first Asian office in Hong Kong in 2007, also retired. Kirkland has nonetheless kept its offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. Recent lateral hires include capital markets lawyer Ricky Chow from Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing and international arbitration partner Wilfred Ho from White & Case. Departures have continued, including corporate and finance partner Paul Guan, who joined Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, and private equity partner Peng Yu, who moved to Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
According to LSEG league tables, Kirkland ranked first among legal advisers for completed Asia ex-Japan M&A in the first nine months of 2026, advising on 17 completed transactions worth a combined $46.4 billion, up from seventh place in the comparable period last year.
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