Outstanding deal lawyer William S. Kirsch possesses a reputation for conducting negotiations in an effective, efficient and fair manner. As the top corporate partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, one of the most prominent global law firms, Kirsch leveraged his knowledge and experience into a role as a trusted advisor to a broad range of private equity and corporate clients. With exceptional expertise in private equity, he closed significant deals for firms like Madison Dearborn Partners. The CEO of Madison Dearborn, John A. Canning, Jr., once said of Kirsch, “If he’s working an 80-hour week, it’s because he took two days off.” Yet William S. Kirsch found time to participate in his community by coaching his children’s baseball teams and serving on the boards of Northwestern University and the Children’s Inner City Educational Fund.

In addition to his role with Madison Dearborn, William S. Kirsch formed Audax Group, an investor that focuses on middle market companies. Kirsch also represented the firm in most of its important transactions. Likewise, he filled a similar role for Sun Capital. He also worked extensively with Thomas H. Lee Partners. He represented the firm during the acquisition of Transwestern Publishing and United Industries. William S. Kirsch also provided oversight during the sale of 25 percent of the interest of the Thomas H. Lee Partners management company to Putnam Investment Company. During his tenure with Kirkland & Ellis, Kirsch and his colleagues earned recognition as the International Private Equity Law Firm of the Year twice in a row.

At the law firm, William S. Kirsch made a significant contribution to the management of the firm, playing a key role in the Firm Committee as well as the Nominating, Finance, Equity Partner Compensation, and Associate Compensation Committees. A native of Chicago, Kirsch attended Northwestern University for his undergraduate studies, pursuing a major in philosophy. While he once thought about joining his father’s business, William S. Kirsch instead traveled to Palo Alto, California, where earned a law degree from the Stanford University School of Law.