Increased optimism within the business sector at the start of 2014 is being reflected in a flurry of lateral hires as high profile energy partner Charles July joins Dentons as a partner in the energy, infrastructure and project finance City practice.
July joins from Watson, Farley & Williams, where he was head of the firm’s projects, commodities and export finance group in London. He joined the firm as a partner in May 2010, before which he was at Magic Circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for 28 years, latterly heading the energy and infrastructure group for the Middle East and North Africa region. He also led the firm’s Abu Dhabi launch in 2008, and was former head of the firm’s Asia project finance practice as well as Singapore office head between 1992 and 1998.
July has experience of advising on project development and finance work, private M&A and acquisition finance in the energy sector. He has also represented blue chip energy companies and banks on oil and gas, renewable energy, conventional power and energy infrastructure.
Dentons UKMEA head of energy, transport and infrastructure, Christopher McGee-Osborne said: ‘Charles and the broad-based energy and infrastructure expertise that he brings joins Dentons at an ideal time as we continue to see substantial opportunities for Dentons across all the energy and infrastructure markets in which we operate.’
The firm has also recruited Eversheds’ partner Michael Wainwright, who joins its City banking and finance practice. Wainwright comes with 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, bringing with him expertise in commercial, regulatory and transactional work and experience in representing insurance companies, fund managers, banks, platforms and distributors. He is particularly well known for his work in the insurance market and retail financial services.
The move will strengthen the firm’s non-contentious regulatory practice, led by London-based financial services and funds practice head Rosali Pretorius, and also support the firm’s London transactional work and global banking and finance group.
Dentons UK head of banking and finance, Paul Holland said: ‘Financial regulation forms a key part of our banking and finance offering, and Michael’s depth of experience of a range of financial products will be a huge asset to us.’
The moves follow a string of hires by the top 10 firm in 2013, including Byron Nurse, who joined from Eversheds as a restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy partner in September, as well as Sylvain Dhennin from Gide Loyrette Nouel and Hogan Lovells’ Samantha Hutchinson who joined the firm’s banking and finance practice in March and February respectively.
Jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk
