US hires were on the cards for Baker & McKenzie and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, while Withers added in Hong Kong and telecoms firm Altice USA turned to Shearman & Sterling for its new general counsel.
Baker & McKenzie continued to expand its North American tax practice with two laterals into its Washington DC and Chicago offices. Tax partner David Berek’s transfer to Baker & McKenzie comes after stints as a partner at Chicago-based firm Horwood, Marcus & Berk and private wealth boutique Handler Thayer. The firm also hired Jennifer Molnar as a partner into its Washington DC office. She re-joins Baker & McKenzie from Sutherland Asbill & Brennan.
This week’s additions bring Baker & McKenzie to five new tax partner hires in the US this year, with the arrival of Patrick Cox from Withers Bergman in New York, Dan Cullen from Bryan Cave in Chicago and Steven Schneider from Goulston & Storrs in Washington DC.
Meanwhile in New York, Gibson Dunn has hired John Pollack from Schulte Roth & Zabel. Pollack was formerly the co-chair of the firm’s M&A and securities group, with major clients including Veritas Capital and Liberty Hall Capital Partners.
Gibson Dunn New York co-head Steven Shoemate said: ‘John has a substantial private equity practice that is very complementary with our M&A, private equity and investment funds practices. He will be a terrific addition to the New York office.’
Also in New York, telecoms and media firm Altice has appointed former Shearman & Sterling partner David Connolly as executive vice president and its new GC. Connelly has 14 years’ experience at Shearman working as an M&A lawyer and helped advise Altice on its acquisition of Cablevision for $10bn in June this year.
And over in Hong Kong, Withers has expanded its hotels operation by hiring corporate partner David Mallinson from Mayer Brown JSM. The hire grows the firm’s hotels and hospitality practice which was launched in March 2016 with hires in Australia and Singapore. Withers recruited Robert Williams as head of the firm’s Asia-Pacific hotels practice from Australia-based Ryan Lawyers, along with partner Justin Gross.
Williams said: ‘David extends the reach and depth of our hotels group, giving us a senior and on-the-ground presence in north Asia. This is a direct response to client demand, and highlights the firm’s commitment to our existing clients in Hong Kong and the wider region.’
matthew.field@legalease.co.uk