Kirkland & Ellis LLP announced that it has expanded its New York corporate practice with the hiring of leading attorney Sean Rodgers. Rodgers has joined the firm as a partner, and was previously a mergers and acquisitions partner in the New York office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.

Mr. Rodgers focuses on mergers and acquisitions and regularly represents private equity firms and corporations in a wide range of transactions including leveraged buyouts, stock and asset acquisitions and sales, recapitalizations, mergers, private equity investments, and general corporate and securities law matters.

"Sean's joining is another testament to the continued success of our corporate practice and the strength of our global platform, which helps us attract top talent to the Firm," said Jeffrey C. Hammes, chairman of Kirkland's Global Management Executive Committee. "Adding an experienced and seasoned, client-focused professional like Sean to the team will enable us to serve our wide range of clients even better."

"We have a wide-ranging and incredibly active practice, but remain focused on providing clients with creative solutions and anticipating their needs in a fast-moving global transactional environment," said David Fox, a partner in the New York office and member of Kirkland's Global Management Executive Committee. "Sean will be a key member of our select group of talented, energetic partners who are building our global M&A and private equity team."

Kirkland has one of the most active and highly regarded international corporate practices, representing many of the world's largest public companies and more than 300 private equity firms on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions in every major market around the globe. Major transactions this year include representing 3G Capital Partners Ltd. on its $28 billion acquisition, along with Berkshire Hathaway Inc., of H. J. Heinz Company; Blackstone in its approximately $26 billion acquisition proposal for Dell; Clearwire Corporation in Sprint's $14 billion acquisition of the remaining stake in Clearwire and the unsolicited competing offer for the company by DISH Networks; Advance Auto Parts in its $2 billion acquisition of General Parts International; and KKR on its acquisition of The Crosby Group and Acco Material Handling Solutions for approximately $1 billion.

Rodgers was with Simpson Thacher since his graduation in 1995 from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, where he was a member of the California Law Review. He received his B.A. in 1992 from Columbia College of Columbia University.