Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced that leading private equity lawyer Kris Agarwal has joined the Firm as a partner. Based in the Houston office, he brings immense industry knowledge and client experience and bolsters Willkie’s significant private equity capabilities in the Texas market and beyond. Kris is the fifth private equity partner to join Willkie this year, with others joining in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Agarwal served as Principal and General Counsel of Platinum Equity Advisors, where he advised senior management on the overall strategy of the organization, and oversaw corporate governance matters, material litigation and regulatory matters for more than 35 portfolio companies.
“Kris has been a fixture in the private equity market and the Houston business community for decades. His arrival is the latest demonstration of the attractiveness of our platform to talented practitioners across the U.S. and in Europe,” said Willkie Chairman Thomas Cerabino. “His time serving as general counsel at two major private equity firms gives him a unique perspective on client needs and legal services that we think will be of great value to our clients.”
He continued: “In Houston, Kris will be a key component of building out our private equity and energy business. We have a number of other discussions underway to supplement our Houston-based private equity and energy practices.”
Archie Fallon, a Managing Partner of the Houston office, commented: “Kris is well known to Willkie’s corporate and funds practice, having worked with a number of our partners across offices. He has an innovative perspective on advising sponsors and their companies, leveraging deep relationships in Texas, New York and California. We view him as a proven leader and a catalyst for expansion of our Houston office.”
Kris has more than two decades of experience across the full spectrum of private equity advisory work, including in private practice and at top global private equity firms. Prior to his time with Platinum Equity, he was Managing Director and General Counsel of private equity firm Lime Rock Management for 10 years, where he built out the legal and compliance department, and oversaw the execution of the firm’s investments and portfolio company management.
He has significant experience advising on venture capital and growth/buyout fundraising initiatives, deal structuring, deal execution, and portfolio company oversight related to investments in a variety of sectors, including energy, media, technology, cybersecurity and cryptocurrency. Earlier in his career, he spent time in private practice.
Kris commented: “Willkie is well known in the Houston market as having the premier global private equity platform with deep transactional, fund formation and regulatory experience. I’m thrilled to be joining the Firm and look forward to working closely with my talented colleagues in Houston and around the world.”
Willkie has developed a 360° platform to provide comprehensive advice to private equity sponsors and portfolio companies, advising on everything from fund formations, platform acquisitions, tuck-in acquisitions and joint ventures, to bank credit and other debt financings, IPOs, follow-on offerings, SPACs, PIPEs and ultimate exits. Because of this approach, clients regularly grow with Willkie over time. Our Private Equity Practice Group handles transactions and cross-border matters worldwide, with attorneys practicing in 13 key market centers across the United States and Europe.
Opened in 2014, Willkie’s Houston office extends the Firm’s prominent private equity, M&A and restructuring practices to sponsors in the region that focus on investments in the energy, industrial, manufacturing and financial services sectors. Lawyers in the Houston office leverage the integrated capabilities of the Firm to provide representation across a broad range of sophisticated matters. Willkie also supports a range of charitable organizations and pro bono efforts and is committed to the Houston community.
