Kirkland Partners Nicola Dagg and Leon Daoud Recognized Among The Lawyer’s 2025 Hot 100

The Lawyer named Kirkland & Ellis partners Nicola Dagg and Leon Daoud to its 2025 “Hot 100” list, which celebrates the United Kingdom’s top lawyers acting on the most significant matters.

Nicola was commended as “one of the most influential IP litigators in Europe” and recognized for her involvement in “all the most important UK mobile communication and FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) licensing cases.” Leon was recognized for “his expertise and drive” in advising some of the most sophisticated sponsors and corporates in the market.

Nicola has extensive experience on all aspects of intellectual property work, including strategic patent and product lifecycle advice, patent litigation, coordinating global IP enforcement/defense cases, and standard essential patent (SEP) and FRAND disputes.

Leon has a broad range of debt finance experience, with a focus on advising on syndicated and direct lending transactions, leveraged acquisitions, take privates, corporate lending and general banking matters.