Simpson Thacher Recruits Kirkland Energy and Infrastructure Partner in Lateral Hire Underscoring Intensifying US Firm Competition for London Power Deal Flow
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has hired an energy and infrastructure transactions partner from Kirkland & Ellis, continuing the pattern of elite US firms reinforcing their London transactional benches with specialist hires from rival firms. The move places an experienced energy and infrastructure lawyer within Simpson Thacher's London office at a moment when deal flow in the sector is accelerating — driven by the UK government's clean energy transition agenda, data centre power demand, and private equity capital deployment into infrastructure assets. Kirkland has been one of the most active recruiters in the London market in recent years, making the lateral departure notable as a signal of competitive intensity at the top of the market. No financial terms or specific practice focus beyond energy and infrastructure were disclosed. The hire adds to a series of energy-specialist lateral moves by US firms in London, reflecting the premium that major infrastructure funds and sponsors place on having US-firm counsel with deep sector expertise available in the City.
Why this matters
The sustained wave of energy and infrastructure partner hires by US firms in London reflects the underlying deal economics: infrastructure funds are deploying record capital into the energy transition, and the largest transactions increasingly require US-firm scale and sponsor relationships. Each senior lateral hire typically brings a client following, creating a direct pipeline of mandates. For trainees, this translates into a growing volume of energy M&A, project finance, and infrastructure fund work at firms like Simpson Thacher. The Kirkland-to-Simpson Thacher move also illustrates how competitive the London lateral market has become at senior level, as firms vie for the handful of partners who can originate sponsor-backed infrastructure deals.
On the Ground
On an energy infrastructure transaction, a trainee at Simpson Thacher would assist with grid connection agreement analysis, review regulatory filing coordination documents for relevant planning or energy licence conditions, and support due diligence on any IP portfolios or technology transfer agreements embedded in the target asset.
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Soundbite
US firms are buying London energy deal flow one lateral partner at a time, betting the infrastructure boom will sustain decade-long returns.
Question you might get
“What regulatory approvals would a private equity buyer typically need to navigate when acquiring a UK electricity network asset, and which practice areas would be involved?”
Full answer
Simpson Thacher has hired a Kirkland energy and infrastructure partner into its London office, the latest in a sustained wave of senior lateral moves as US firms compete for a share of the UK and European energy transition deal market. This matters because partner hires in this sector are direct bets on deal flow: energy infrastructure mandates are among the most lucrative in the City, combining M&A, project finance, and regulatory advisory. The structural driver is the UK government's clean power agenda and the surge in private capital targeting data centre and grid infrastructure. This suggests the London energy transactions market will remain a battleground for talent at the senior level, with further lateral moves likely through the rest of 2026.
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