Sir Nigel Knowles, who is set to step down as co-CEO and managing partner at DLA Piper later this year, has been appointed chairman of UK investment banking boutique Zeus Capital.
Knowles, who currently holds the position of global co-CEO and managing partner of DLA Piper, joins Zeus Capital as it looks to build on its early success with the capture of bigger IPO mandates.
Succession plans are in place at DLA Piper for Knowles who, after 18 years at the firm’s helm, is regarded as one of the most entrepreneurial figures in the legal market having transformed DLA Piper into a global firm generating more than £1bn in revenue. While he will continue as managing partner of the firm until 30 April 2015, Knowles is set to relinquish his title as co-CEO to IP partner Simon Levine.
Zeus Capital has offices in London, Manchester and Birmingham, and was ranked by Dealogic in June as the leading IPO fundraiser for AIM companies in the UK. John Goold, joint chief executive at Zeus Capital, said: “The expertise that Sir Nigel brings will be a huge benefit to Zeus Capital. He has been behind some of the largest deals in the last two decades and has huge experience of growing a business. The team at Zeus are really excited about working with him.’
Knowles said: ‘Having led the recent series of IPOs with the likes of Conviviality, Boohoo and DX Group, it is an exciting time to be joining Zeus Capital. Its pipeline of deals is just as impressive and I look forward to adding to the considerable expertise Zeus Capital already has at its disposal.’
tom.moore@legalease.co.uk
