Simpson Thacher Lawyer Hired as KKR General Counsel

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts has tapped a lawyer who worked on many of its biggest deals as general counsel.

He is David Sorkin of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, the New York Times reports. The newspaper says the move is an indication that the private equity firm may be moving forward with plans for a public offering.

Sorkin advised KKR on the $30 billion leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco in 1988 and represented AOL in its merger with Time Warner, the Wall Street Journal Law Blog reports.