Moves:
UK & Ireland
Dentons continues to build in Dublin with hire of William Fry’s debt capital markets head
Dentons hired banking and finance partner Matthew Cahill from William Fry as it continues to build up the Dublin office it launched in 2020. Cahill joins as a partner, bringing with him more than three decades of financial services advisory experience. His practice focuses on structured finance, securitisation, capital markets and derivative transactions, as well as general banking matters.
Freshfields hires leading environmental consultant to head client sustainability offering
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer hired environmental consultant Jake Reynolds from the University of Cambridge as its new head of client sustainability and environment. Reynolds, who was executive director at the university’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership, will be responsible for driving the magic circle firm’s global sustainability client offering across five key areas – energy transition, human rights, corporate governance, climate change and sustainable finance.
EMEA
Squire Patton Boggs hires data privacy and cyber team from Steptoe in Brussels
Squire Patton Boggs hired a team of privacy and cyber lawyers from Steptoe & Johnson in Brussels to expand its data privacy, cybersecurity and digital assets practice group. The team is led by partner Charles-Albert Helleputte, who comes onboard as the firm’s new head of its EU data and cybersecurity practice and will split his time between Brussels and Paris. He is joined by Brussels and Milan-based counsel Diletta De Cicco and two associates who work in Brussels and London.
Jones Day Paris Litigator Leaves for Dentons
Dentons reached into Jones Day for a new member of its Paris-based litigation team, according to firm’s leadership. The lawyer joined Jones Day in May 2021 from Gide Loyrette Nouel as part of a five-lawyer team hire.
Covington Hires Baker McKenzie Brussels Competition Partner
Covington & Burling hired a competition partner from Baker McKenzie for its Brussels antitrust practice. Sibel Yilmaz, a Swedish national, joined Baker McKenzie’s Brussels office as a partner in April of 2021.
Latham & Watkins Lawyer Rejoins Firm as Partner After 4-Year EU Commission Stint
Latham & Watkins announced that Christos Malamataris has re-joined the firm’s Brussels office as partner in the Antitrust & Competition Practice. Malamataris joins from the European Commission’s Director General for Competition, where most recently he served as an official focused on merger control, policy and strategy, and new merger-related legislation. The move continues a trend of EU competition officials jumping ship to join (or rejoin) elite law firms.
APAC
Han Kun Hires Shanghai Partners After Deloitte Legal’s China Closure
Two former Deloitte Legal partners joined the Shanghai office of China’s Han Kun Law Offices. Partners Weiheng Jia and Cody Chen, who were previously partners at Deloitte’s now defunct legal China affiliate Qin Li Law Firm, are corporate lawyers who specialise in multiple practice areas, notably cross-border M&A and corporate regulatory compliance.
Dentons’ Sydney Office Head Jumps to Australia’s Gadens
Australian law firm Gadens hired Dentons’ Sydney office head, who was also its real estate leader in Australia. Sally Tuckfield joins the national firm as partner in its real estate and construction group in Sydney.
The Americas
Morgan Lewis adds highly-rated global aviation finance team from K&L Gates
Morgan Lewis & Bockius added an eight-strong aviation finance team in London, Dubai and Singapore from K&L Gates. Partners Sidanth Rajagopal, James Bradley and Manuela Krach are joining the firm alongside counsel Sourabh Bhattacharya and Terry Chang and three associates. The team focuses on complex cross border financing, leasing, and restructuring issues in the aviation industry and represents industry players including financial institutions, lessors, restructuring specialists and airlines.
A&O Adds Goodwin Funds Partner to Los Angeles Office
Allen & Overy hired an investment funds partner from Goodwin Procter to join its Los Angeles office. Zeeshan Ahmedani has joined the firm as a partner in A&O’s Global Funds practice.
In-House
Ex-White & Case partner joins new real estate lender
A new real estate lending business hired a former White & Case partner as its new general counsel. Emma Parr moved to Birchwood Real Estate Capital, a London-based lender backed by Connecticut’s WR Berkley. Parr joins from Get Living, a rental management company, where she was also its general counsel for over a year. Prior to this, she was a partner in the corporate and PE practice of White & Case for five years.
London Kirkland Partner Exits For General Counsel Role At Private Equity Client
A London Kirkland & Ellis partner is leaving the US law firm’s London office to join UK private equity firm TDR Capital. London partner David Holdsworth is set to join private equity fund TDR Capital as its general counsel.
Promotions & Appointments
DLA names new London managing partner
DLA Piper appointed media and IP litigation partner Ruth Hoy as London managing partner for a three-year term. Hoy, who has led the UK intellectual property group since 2012, will succeed Tom Heylen who has been in the role for six years.
Verizon appoints chief legal officer as former GC steps up to lead new services business
Verizon created a new chief legal officer role as part of a broader shake up of its operations that sees previous general counsel Craig Silliman promoted to lead the company’s new services business.
Mergers & Alliances
Mishcon lawyers gain access to two more UK cities with merger
Mishcon de Reya’s lawyers will be able to use Taylor Vinters’ office in the City of London, plus two regional bases, once the merger launches next year. Taylor Vinters’ offices will be available in Oxford and Cambridge.
Morrison Foerster absorbs ‘stellar’ Californian litigation boutique Durie Tangri
Morrison Foerster (MoFo) is teaming up with Californian litigation boutique Durie Tangri and its team of 36 lawyers, strengthening MoFo’s West Coast intellectual property offering. The incoming team comprises 12 partners, including Durie Tangri’s founders Daralyn Durie, Ragesh Tangri, Mark Lemley and Joseph Gratz. In addition to its IP expertise, the firm’s practice also focuses on civil litigation, professional liability, white-collar crime and investigations, contract and commercial disputes and class actions.
Dentons announces ‘historic’ combination with India’s Link Legal
Dentons announced a combination with India’s Link Legal, in a move the BigLaw player says marks the first time an international law firm has combined with a law firm in India.
Japanese Firms City-Yuwa and Soga Law Merge to Expand China Offering
City-Yuwa Partners expanded the firm’s China practice and overseas listing service offering by merging with boutique China-focused Soga Law Office.
Office Openings & Closing
Goodwin is going long on Singapore finance
US firm Goodwin Procter announced that it was launching an office in Singapore. It announced the relocation of two partners from its Hong Kong office to kickstart the operation. Investment funds partner Greg Barclay will chair the office with private equity partner Abhishek Krishnan joining him, while Barclays’s colleague in the funds team and partner Elyn Xing will split her time between Singapore and Hong Kong.
Clyde & Co hires insurance quartet from McLennan Ross to launch in Calgary
Clyde & Co hired four insurance partners from McLennan Ross to open a Calgary office, its fourth location in Canada.The quartet include Don Dear KC, Alexis Moulton, Jeff Weidman and Cynthia Aoki, bringing with them a wealth of experience across a range of litigation and disputes areas, such as class actions, product and professional liability claims, property claims and commercial insurance defence.
Orrick energy team spins out to launch sustainability boutique in Italy
A team of 21 energy and infrastructure lawyers left Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe to launch a new sustainability-focused boutique in Italy. The new practice, known as Green Horse, will be led by Carlo Montella and Andrea Gentili, both of whom were partners at Orrick. Newly minted partners Francesca Isgrò, Celeste Mellone and Maria Teresa and a trio of counsel have also moved over alongside a team of 13 associates.
Financials
The mid-tier are beating the magic circle for international growth
The mid-tier firms are powering growth outside the UK. The country’s top firms have seen revenues rise by 20 per cent since 2020. According to the latest HSBC Investment and Growth Strategies in Law Firms report non-UK growth is a top priority for 61 per cent of respondents which already have international offices. However, it is the mid-tier firms leading the charge for international growth. The data provides compelling evidence as to why: even with the UK boom of the last two years, growth overseas is outstripping growth at home.
Baker McKenzie Growth Slows, With Flat Profits After Bumper Previous Year
Baker McKenzie’s global financial profits growth slowed after last year’s huge up-tick, according to revenue figures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. After a significant profit rise of 36.7% last year to $1.24 billion, that figure has stayed flat since then.
Diversity & Inclusion
Women and Diversity in Law Awards unveils 300-strong list of nominees
More than 300 individuals, businesses, legal teams and not-for-profit groups are unveiled today as nominees for the inaugural Women and Diversity in Law Awards. The awards will serve as a showcase for people working within the UK legal sector who are dedicating their professional careers to moving the DE&I needle or using their positions of influence to help facilitate change.
Law Society of England & Wales elects first Asian and Muslim president
Lubna Shuja has become the first Asian and first Muslim president of the Law Society of England & Wales. Shuja, a sole practitioner from Birmingham-based Legal Swan, specialises in professional regulation and disciplinary law. She has acted as deputy clerk to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and in various leadership roles on conduct committees for accountants, social workers, healthcare professionals and chiropractors. She also acts as mediator in civil, family, probate and commercial disputes.