Kirkland & Ellis' high-profile head of private equity in Asia, David Eich, is to relocate to London in a bid to bolster the firm's corporate relationships in Europe, Legal Week has learned.

Eich was one of the founders of Kirkland's Hong Kong office in 2007 and is one of the Chicago-headquartered firm's key relationship partners with major client Bain Capital.

In two decades at the firm, he has practiced in Kirkland's Chicago, London and Munich offices, and is qualified in English, US and Hong Kong law. He is also registered as a foreign lawyer in Germany.

His work includes advising financial and strategic sponsors in multi-jurisdictional leveraged buyouts and acquisitions, fund formation and other complex transactional matters.

"David's very well-liked by the Bain people," said one Kirkland insider. "Ten years ago, the two biggest clients of the London office were Sun Capital and Bain, and ten years on, that's not really changed."

Since Bain relationship partner and de facto City head Jim Learner departed in 2012 to Huntsman Gay Global Capital, much of Kirkland's work with the private equity client in London has fallen to US-qualified Sam Pakbaz, who previously worked with Eich during a tenure in London.

"David's move is to help build our M&A strength in London. When we're speaking to private equity clients, depth is increasingly important for them," said another Kirkland source. "The Asian team has fully embedded itself out there, and are in a very strong position."

In 2011, Eich helped lead a significant recruitment charge for Kirkland in Hong Kong, helping to secure the signings of eight partners including Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom's Asia corporate co-heads Nicholas Norris and Dominic Tsun and Latham & Watkins' vice global corporate chair and co-chair of Greater China David Zhang.

Another of those hires, former Allen & Overy finance partner Ashley Young, also recently relocated to London to work alongside the firm's latest star hire – Weil Gotshal & Manges' banking head Stephen Lucas.

Lucas handed in his notice in May, after three years at Weil. He is one of several high profile signings for Kirkland this year, with Houston-based Simpson Thacher & Bartlett partner Andrew Calder also joining the firm in April.

Kirkland & Ellis declined to comment on Eich's move. Bain Capital's European general counsel Bart Gombert also declined to comment.

See also: How – and at what cost – does Kirkland & Ellis' London office land the star names?