Long-time Playtech adviser Alex Latner, a partner at Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has moved in-house, taking up the role of general counsel at the publicly traded gaming company.
Latner (pictured) replaces former general counsel David McLeish, who also moved from BLP to the Israeli gaming firm, back in 2013. McLeish joined Wiggin last year, with an interim legal head taking over before Latner was appointed at the start of 2017.
Corporate finance partner Latner joined BLP in 1998, and was made partner in 2008. He has been advising Playtech since 2005, commencing with its original offering on AIM in 2006.
The newly-announced GC has advised Playtech through a slew of important transactions, including the formation of William Hill Online in addition to the acquisitions of GTS, Virtue Fusion and Ash Gaming.
Latner said: ‘It was a difficult decision to leave BLP after nearly 20 years having grown up there and cultivated many strong relationships but I am very excited by the new challenge.
He added: ‘Playtech is at another significant stage of its continued growth and development, which will provide some fascinating challenges for me and my team as the company’s strategy is implemented.’
BLP maintains its relationship with Playtech with partners Gareth Jones and Benjamin Lee now overseeing the relationship.
Other recent in-house moves include Wordpay promoting Ruwan De Soyza to group general counsel following the exit of Mark Edwards after two years in the role. While, Dugout has appointed its first in-house counsel from Perform Group as it gains backing from some of the sport’s biggest clubs. The company has appointed Adam Lovatt as its first in-house lawyer from Perform where he was group legal counsel.
tom.baker@legalease.co.uk