In a week that has seen Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer appoint firm lifer Julian Long as London managing partner, Slaughter and May today announced that Andy Ryde has taken over as head of corporate and Andrew McClean as head of finance, both who trained with the Magic Circle firm.
Ryde takes over from Frances Murphy, who has been in the role since 2008, while McClean will replace Paul Stacey, who was appointed in 2011. The replacements were prompted by the decision of the outgoing partners to step down and Chris Saul, senior partner of the 692-lawyer firm, told Legal Business that their decision was based on a desire to return to the ‘coalface’ of legal work.
After training with the top 15 LB100 firm, rated M&A lawyer Ryde became a partner in 1996. His clients include Marks & Spencer, RSA, Ladbrokes, Bupa and Direct Line, for which he acted on its IPO in 2012, and GE where he acted on the IPO of GE Money Bank Switzerland.
McClean, who made partner in 1998, spent 11 years in Frankfurt and then Paris before returning to London in 2010. His standout work includes advising Technicolor on a major refinancing and the Central Bank of Cyprus in relation to the 2013 ‘bail-in’ refinancing of Laiki Bank and The bank of Cyprus.
The appointments are for a three-year term.
‘It is excellent that Andy Ryde and Andrew McClean are joining the roster of stream heads here at the firm. They are both extremely talented and energetic individuals and will make a great contribution in their new roles,’ said Saul, in a statement.
The election saw the remainder of practice heads reappointed.
david.stevenson@legalease.co.uk
The full list of heads of department are:
Competition: Philippe Chappatte
Corporate: Andy Ryde
Dispute Resolution: Deborah Finkler
Financial Regulation: Jan Putnis
Financing: Andrew McClean
IP/IT: Cathy Connolly
M&A: Steve Cooke
Pensions & Employment: Jonathan Fenn
Real Estate: David Waterfield
Tax: Sara Luder