S. Kris Agarwal is a partner in the Corporate & Financial Services Department and the Private Equity Practice Group. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions and corporate finance, and has more than two decades of experience across the full spectrum of private equity advisory work, in both private practice and at top global private equity firms.
Kris also has significant experience advising on venture capital and growth/buyout fundraising initiatives, deal structuring, deal execution, and portfolio company oversight related to investments in an array of industries and sectors, including media, energy, technology, cybersecurity and cryptocurrency. Additionally, Kris advises private fund managers on all aspects of their business including fund formation, secondary transactional matters, co-investments, and regulatory compliance issues.
Kris also currently serves on the Board of the Performing Arts of Houston.
Experience
Prior to joining Willkie, Kris served as Principal and General Counsel of Platinum Equity Advisors, where he advised senior management on the overall strategy of the organization, and oversaw corporate governance matters, material litigation and regulatory matters for more than 35 portfolio companies. He also previously served as Managing Director and General Counsel of private equity firm Lime Rock Management for 10 years. In that role, he built out the legal and compliance department, and oversaw the execution of the firm’s investments and portfolio company management. Earlier in his career, Kris worked for several years at prominent international law firms.
- Pan Energy Infrastructure Fund in its investment in Trinity Gas Storage, LLC
- Pan Capital Management LP in the establishment of its private equity firm business including the formation of its initial $125 million private equity fund, Pan Resources Opportunity Fund LP (“Pan Resources Fund”)
- OneRock Energy Holdings, LLC in the acquisition of Northwoods Management Company and certain related entities
- AccessESP, a portfolio company of Lime Rock Partners, in its acquisition by Baker Hughes
Credentials
Education
SMU Dedman School of Law, J.D. (Order of the Coif, SMU Law Review), 2002 Texas A&M University, M.B.A., 1997 Texas A&M University, BBA, 1995