Freeths has appointed Michelle Kirkland Elias as a partner in its corporate team. She joins from CMS with more than 15 years’ experience advising UK and global clients on multi jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, restructurings and complex corporate governance matters, with a strong international focus across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Kirkland Elias has particular expertise in the hospitality and leisure sector, advising investors, owners and operators on acquisitions and disposals, management and franchise agreements, asset management arrangements and the corporate aspects of financing and restructuring. Her work spans the full lifecycle of hotel and hospitality assets, from acquisition and investment through to operations, brand expansion and franchising.
Leon Arnold, national head of corporate, said: ‘Michelle is a highly respected lawyer whose breadth of experience makes her an excellent addition to our team,’ adding that ‘her sector knowledge, particularly across the hotels and leisure sector, complements our growing offering in this area’.
Kirkland Elias said: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining Freeths at such an exciting stage in the firm’s growth,’ adding that she is ‘looking forward to contributing to the continued development of Freeths’ international practice’ and that ‘with increasing demand for cross border and sector focused advice, I’m excited to work alongside colleagues to support clients’.
