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The Interview Process
Finance Technical Screen
Kirkland acts for the most aggressive PE sponsors. You must understand 'Covenant-Lite' structures, Term Loan Bs (TLBs), Unitranche debt, and high-yield bonds deeply.
Drafting / Covenant Scenario
E.g., 'Review this Debt Commitment Letter from the arranging banks. Mark it up to give our PE Sponsor client absolute certainty of funds.'
Partner Panel
Testing your drafting speed and accuracy. Kirkland associates are expected to turn around massive credit agreements almost overnight.
Real Kirkland & Ellis Interview Questions
Practice these exact questions faced by previous Associate (Debt Finance) candidates.
1(Debt Structuring) When representing an aggressive Private Equity sponsor in a 'Covenant-Lite' Leveraged Buyout, walk me through how you aggressively draft the 'EBITDA Add-Backs' definition. Specifically, how do you mathematically and legally stretch the 'Pro Forma Cost Savings and Synergies' allowance to artificially inflate EBITDA and maximize debt capacity? (LevFin Drafting / Strategic Ambiguity)
2A highly distressed portfolio company needs to incur emergency rescue financing, but its existing credit agreement strictly bans new senior debt. However, it has an unused 'Permitted Receivables Financing' basket. Walk me through the legal mechanics of structuring a securitization facility that legally bypasses the main debt restrictions. (Financial Engineering / Contract Law)
3(Execution Speed) You are managing the legal closing mechanics for a $2 Billion syndicated loan. It is Friday at 8:00 PM. The Facility Agent discovers a minor typographical error in the definition of a foreign guarantor that technically violates a Condition Precedent. The banks refuse to fund. What is your immediate, aggressive solution? (Crisis Execution / Problem Solving)
4Explain the critical strategic differences between a traditional 'Senior/Mezzanine' debt structure and a modern 'Unitranche' facility provided by a Private Credit fund. When drafting the 'Agreement Among Lenders' (AAL) in a Unitranche, how do you strictly limit the voting rights of the 'First Out' lenders? (Market Trends / Structured Finance)
5Tell me about a time you utilized a highly obscure or aggressive interpretation of a financial covenant to allow your client to execute a transaction (e.g., a dividend or an acquisition) that the lending syndicate believed was strictly prohibited. (Technical Mastery / Legal Creativity)
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