Squire Patton Boggs has recruited a London projects team from Nabarro spearheaded by partner Robin Baillie, as Arnold & Porter bolsters its life sciences group and Bird & Bird brings in Gide Loyrette Nouel partner Rafał Dziedzic to head its corporate practice in Poland.
Baillie, who specialises in advising governments on infrastructure projects and has 15 years’ experience under his belt, is joined by Nabarro associates Stefanie Atchinson and Anna Le Jehan.
Partner Philippa Chadwick, who leads Squire Patton Boggs’ global projects group, said: ‘The arrival of Robin and his team gives a significant boost to the development of our international projects and Public Private Partnership (PPP) capability. Robin, Stefanie and Anna give us additional resources and know-how here in London to handle a growing number of projects both in the UK, Ireland and Western Europe but also further afield, particularly the Middle East.’
Baillie added: ‘Squire Patton Boggs has a great track record of PFI/PPP in the UK, Europe and Asia and is now developing that capability in North America. It’s great to join such a strong projects team in the UK that also has such a powerful global platform.’
Squire Patton Boggs was not the only US-based firm to make a London play, with Arnold & Porter picking up corporate partner Blaine Templeman from Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton. Templeman will split his time between London and New York and his hire is a direct response to the increased link between Europe and the US in the pharma sector following recent mergers.
Tim Frazer, head of Arnold & Porter’s London office, said: ‘Blaine’s skills and experience on the European side of commercial life sciences transactions expands our depth in this critical and ever-changing sector, and will be of great benefit to our clients in the UK.’
‘Arnold & Porter has a large number of lawyers with deep experience in the industry, which will enable me to broaden my service to clients and allow for collaboration with my new colleagues both nationally and overseas,’ said Templeman.
Meanwhile in Europe, Bird & Bird appointed Rafał Dziedzic as head of its corporate and M&A practice in Warsaw. Dziedzic joins from Gide Loyrette Nouel where he was head of the M&A and corporate department for the country.
Maciej Gawroński, head of Bird & Bird’s Warsaw office, said: ‘Our clients who have worked with Rafał before congratulated us on winning him for our firm. He is well-known for his in-depth experience, knowledge and market understanding, which combined with the know-how and reputation of the whole Bird & Bird team will allow us to build a strong and stable corporate practice in Poland, focusing in particular on M&A transactions.’
tom.moore@legalease.co.uk