Kirkland Advises Brentwood Associates on Partnership with Hissho Sushi

Kirkland & Ellis advised Brentwood Associates (Brentwood), a leading growth-oriented private equity firm, on its acquisition of a majority interest in Hissho Sushi (Hissho). Founded in 1998, Hissho is the second-largest franchisor of turnkey sushi solutions and is leading the charge on delivering fresh, premium sushi that customers crave. Brentwood acquired its majority interest in Hissho from investor Jeff Vinik, Ingleside Investors, Hissho’s founder (Philip Maung), Beem Holdings and management. The prior ownership group and the management team will remain significant shareholders going forward. Continental Grain Company, a global investor, owner and operator of companies across the food and agribusiness spectrum, participated in the transaction alongside Brentwood.

Read the Brentwood press release 

The Kirkland team was led by corporate partner Hamed Meshki and associate Michael Chung and included associates Kristina Mooradian and Tammy Adereti; debt finance partner Nisha Kanchanapoomi and associates Christian Rivas, Chris Gambini and Carrie Han; tax partners Michael Beinus and Meredith Levy and associate Maria Smith; executive compensation partner Jack Stratton and associate Tony Guan; technology and intellectual property transactions partner Matthew Lovell; employee benefits partner Jack Bernstein and associate Caitlin Pyrce; labor and employment partner Michael Schulman and associates Mallory McKenzie and Carmen Francella, III; real estate partner Roberto Miceli and associate Brandon Hemans; international trade and government contracts partner Boyd Greene; international trade partners Mario Mancuso and Lucille Hague and associates William Phalen and Erika Krum; environmental transactions partner Michael Saretsky and associate Matt Swanson; and antitrust partner Matthew Wheatley and associate Kelsey Marie Laugel.