Brexit hasn’t put a brake on the lateral market in a busy week for hires which has seen both Ashurst and Baker & McKenzie make key appointments in the US, while DWF and Brodies have focused on the UK.
In the US, Ashurst has appointed banking partner Andrew Fraiser from Allen & Overy as a partner in its New York infrastructure team as part of the firm’s ambition to become the leading firm in US infrastructure.
Specialising in infrastructure projects for nearly 20 years, Fraiser has advised public authorities, private equity investors, developers, contractors, operators and debt providers on some of the most complex and high profile projects in the US and European markets.
Ashurst’s New York infrastructure partner Jason Radford said: ‘The addition of Andy to our team makes Ashurst one of a very small number of US based teams with a track record of representing the public sector, sponsors and lenders on deals that achieved financial close. Andy’s arrival signifies the start of another key stage in our development to become the leading firm in the US infrastructure market.’
Also in New York, Bakers has hired two bankruptcy partners, hiring Debra Dandeneau and Peter Goodman. Dandeneau, who practiced at Weil, Gotshal & Manges for the past 30 years, joined Bakers last week as co-head of its global restructuring and insolvency group. She also will chair its North American restructuring and insolvency practice.
Goodman was a principal at McKool Smith for more than six years, after joining from Andrews Kurth.
He and Dandeneau said they were attracted to Baker & McKenzie’s international platform and plans to grow the firm’s transactional and restructuring practices.
Meanwhile in Europe, DWF has hired a team from PwC Legal led by partner Jonathan Isaacs who led the Big Four accountants’ commercial disputes practice.
According to DWF, the three member team which includes senior associate Joshua Fineman and solicitor Alex Green have been involved in a number of high-profile litigation cases, including defending an oral contract dispute worth in excess of €13m for a high-net-worth individual and defending several substantial post-transaction disputes including a long-running warranty dispute worth £20m.
Finally, Scottish independent Brodies has expanded its construction team with the appointment of David Arnott, a construction disputes specialist who joins from MacRoberts where he was head of the firm’s construction and projects group. Brodies also hired consultant Jane McMonagle, a contracts specialist, and associate Chris Duff, also a construction disputes resolution lawyer.
McMonagle, who will be based in Brodies’ Glasgow office, joins from Harper Macleod, where she was a partner in the firm’s construction team. Before joining her last firm, she spent 10 years with Dundas & Wilson. Duff also joins from MacRoberts.
Arnott, who will be based in Brodies’ Edinburgh office, specialises in resolving construction and engineering disputes through negotiation, mediation, adjudication, arbitration and litigation. He has been involved in more than 200 adjudications and has resolved multi-million pound disputes relating to some of the country’s largest PFI and PPP projects and other high-profile construction cases.
Brodies managing partner Bill Drummond said: ‘In the 12 months to June 2015, Scotland’s construction industry achieved record output with a value of more than £13bn, helping sustain growth in the Scottish economy in tricky times. Throughout this period and beyond, our construction team has contributed strongly to growth in the firm’s real estate, projects and dispute resolution practices. Our commitment to supporting infrastructure projects in Scotland and our focus on team-working to ensure clients get a seamless service mean all practice areas in Brodies are looking forward to welcoming these top quality lawyers to the firm.’
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk
