Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Simon Marchant as its new City corporate head in the wake of Julian Long’s election to London managing partner, as the Magic Circle firm also announces that Simon Priddis will take over as competition head.
Marchant, who previously headed the firm’s Asia business and co-headed its London-based M&A business, has experience of advising corporate clients, investment banks and institutional and other shareholders.
He fills the gap left after Long’s appointment in March to London managing partner, as incumbent City chief Mark Rawlinson returns to client work.
Priddis, meanwhile, will take over as London head of antitrust, competition and trade (ACT), succeeding former head Rod Carlton, who has served two terms and will return to full time fee-earning. Both appointments come into effect today (May 1st) and will run for 3 years.
Priddis’ was the firm’s former co-head of the global healthcare group, and covers antitrust and competition matters, including obtaining merger control clearances for transactions, counselling clients on competition law compliance, advising on cartel and market investigations, and related litigation. Prior to joining Freshfields, he was a senior official at the UK competition regulator.
Freshfields global managing partner David Aitman said: ‘These appointments see the leadership of our London corporate and competition practices handed over to two massively skilled and very well regarded partners.
‘Freshfields’ corporate and ACT practices are globally recognised as market leaders – I have no doubt that we will see these positions consolidated under Simon and Simon’s guidance of the London teams.’
Jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk
