Austin Witt joins Kirkland & Ellis as debt finance Partner

Austin Witt joins Kirkland & Ellis as debt finance Partner

Earlier he was a Partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison

Kirkland & Ellis has announced that Austin Witt has joined the firm as a Partner in the Debt Finance Group (DFG). He will be based in New York.

Speaking on the development, Jon A. Ballis, the Chairman of Kirkland's Executive Committee stated, "Witt is a very talented lawyer with varied experience in the debt finance space, specifically in restructuring, liability management and special situations transactions. His experience will further strengthen our market-leading debt finance, restructuring and special sits practices as we continue to attract leading talent to our platform."

David Nemecek, a Partner in Kirkland's DFG remarked, "Witt is known as a go-to advisor for private equity sponsors and alternative asset managers seeking cutting edge capital solutions. We are delighted to welcome him to the firm and to our world-class debt finance team, as we continue to guide clients through the most complex and novel financing transactions."

Witt said, "Kirkland presented an extremely compelling opportunity with best-in-class debt finance, private equity and restructuring practices, and an exceptional platform for special situations and liability management work. I am excited to continue to grow my practice here."

Witt was earlier at the New York office of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison as a Partner in the finance group and head of the special situations practice.

He represents the borrowers, sponsors, direct lenders, distressed investors and creditors in a wide range of restructurings, liability management matters, direct lending transactions, rescue financings, DIP financings, exit financings and other high-yield financing transactions.

Witt is particularly experienced in advising clients on credit opportunities and special situation transactions. He has worked on some of the largest and most sophisticated distressed transactions in history.

Meanwhile, Kirkland has a deep understanding of the national debt markets, serving over 450 private equity clients. It has become a destination practice for private equity sponsors and their affiliates.