Cozen O’Connor today announced that Jonathan K. Kitchen — a highly regarded corporate attorney with extensive experience representing private capital providers, private equity sponsors, and companies in a range of strategic transactions — has joined its North American Corporate practice. Kitchen, who comes to the firm from Barton LLP, joins as a member in Cozen O’Connor’s New York City office at 3 WTC.
Kitchen focuses his practice on corporate-level mergers and acquisitions, private equity and growth transactions, capital reorganizations, complex joint ventures, and general corporate matters related to institutional and corporate clients and private equity portfolio companies. Prior to joining the firm, Kitchen was a partner with a New York law firm and before that, he served for more than a decade as an internal counsel for Perella Weinberg Partners, a leading global independent investment banking firm. There, he supported the executive management team and its financial advisory and investment professionals with regard to corporate and transactional matters, including as the primary transactional and investment fund attorney for its private equity and hedge fund business.
“Our practice serves a broad array of entities — from family owned businesses to Fortune 100 corporations — operating within an equally diverse range of global industries,” said Larry P. Laubach, co-chair of the firm’s Corporate Practice Group. “Like so many attorneys in our group, Jonathan brings decades of experience providing sophisticated counsel to a diverse array of companies, investors, and entrepreneurs. His skills are exactly what our clients need, and it’s an absolute pleasure to welcome him to the firm.”
Kitchen brings to the firm some 15-plus years of experience advising businesses in many different industries and asset classes. He also has experience advising clients on the formation, structuring, launch, and ongoing legal issues associated with operating private funds. His clients include hedge funds, private equity, fund of funds, managed accounts, liquid alternatives mutual funds, UCITS, and special purpose vehicles.
“Truly outstanding corporate attorneys like Jonathan serve as both a trusted business adviser and an effective dealmaker,” said Michael C. Schmidt, co-office managing partner of the New York office. “Our clients want and need corporate lawyers who understand their business and are attuned to their specific needs and challenges. Jonathan brings a proven track record of doing just that. I’m very happy to welcome him to the New York City office.”
“Cozen O’Connor has a tremendous reputation within the corporate community in New York and across the country. It’s exciting to be a part of that now,” Kitchen said. “The firm’s North American footprint and tremendous legal resources will certainly benefit my practice and my clients. I’m very happy to be here and I intend to hit the ground running.”
Kitchen earned his J.D. at Seton Hall University School of Law, and a B.S. in business administration and economics at University of Vermont.
