Michael J. Sartor

A capable attorney, but communication could be more consistent

I engaged Michael Sartor and his team at Kirkland & Ellis to advise on the acquisition of a mid-sized manufacturing company for our private equity fund. There is no question about his deep technical expertise in leveraged buyouts; his 20 years of experience, particularly in private equity law, were evident in the complex structuring of the deal. The work product was solid, and his recognition in the field is well-deserved. However, my experience was mixed on the service front. While Mike himself was sharp in our meetings, much of the day-to-day communication was delegated to more junior associates, leading to occasional delays in receiving updates. At times, we had to follow up multiple times for clarifications on minor points, which created some friction during a tight timeline. The bill, as expected from a top-tier firm, was substantial, and for that premium, I had hoped for more proactive and consistent partner-level accessibility. For a straightforward transaction where you need top-tier legal structuring, he is a competent choice. Just be prepared to manage the communication flow actively and set very clear expectations on response times from the outset.