Allen & Overy (“A&O”) today announced that Kfir Abutbul has joined the firm as Head of U.S. Energy Private Equity and a partner in its U.S. Corporate Private Equity and M&A practice. Abutbul joins from Paul Hastings, where he was Vice Chair of the Energy & Infrastructure practice and Chair of the Energy Transition team.
Kfir has nearly 15 years of experience advising on a wide array of domestic and cross-border transactions within the energy space for private equity sponsors, investors and credit funds, including LBOs, joint ventures, and structured equity financings. He has deep expertise in the energy transition, renewables, power and infrastructure sectors and has also led transactions in non-energy sectors involving highly complex structured equity products, a practice he helped lead while at Paul Hastings.
Bill Schwitter, Chair of A&O’s U.S. Corporate practice, said, “The addition of Kfir is an opportunity to continue the expansion of our U.S. Private Equity and M&A practice with a talented partner who further strengthens our market leading energy transition expertise in the U.S.”
“Kfir embodies A&O’s entrepreneurial and collaborative culture. His expertise intersects our firm’s priority areas of sustainability and private capital. Kfir is a key step in continuing our strategic U.S. growth to better serve our global client base,” said Kent Rowey, U.S. Co-Chair and member of the Projects, Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure practice.
Kfir commented: “I’m excited to join A&O’s innovative and collaborative team to help further extend their market leading energy transition practice and Private Equity platform.”
Kfir joins on the heels of A&O’s recent announcement of its intent to merge with New York-based Shearman & Sterling, forming Allen Overy Shearman Sterling (A&O Shearman). The combined firm will have nearly 4,000 lawyers, 49 offices and tally annual revenues of approximately more than $3.4 billion. Kfir is A&O’s 47th U.S. lateral hire in the last three years.
