‘My time on non-legal is the same as my time on legal’ – Bridgepoint GC Rachel Thompson

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‘My time on non-legal is the same as my time on legal’ – Bridgepoint GC Rachel Thompson

Rachel Thompson – Partner and group general counsel, Bridgepoint

Year of qualification: 2007
Clifford Chance, 2005-09
Bridgepoint, 2010-present

It was never really a conscious decision to go in-house; I came on secondment from Clifford Chance two years after qualification, when Bridgepoint had just hired [former Travers Smith private equity head] Charlie Barter as its first GC. It was right back at the start of PE houses getting more sophisticated in terms of their in-house legal functions. Continue reading “‘My time on non-legal is the same as my time on legal’ – Bridgepoint GC Rachel Thompson”

‘Working in private markets keeps you on your toes’ – Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s Melanie Sanchez

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‘Working in private markets keeps you on your toes’ – Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s Melanie Sanchez

Melanie Sanchez – Global general counsel, investments, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

Clayton Utz, 2005-06
Blake, Cassels & Graydon, 2006-14
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, 2014-present

I ended up working on private equity deals not by design, but rather by chance. I started out my career in Australia as a financing lawyer and when I moved to Canada I transitioned to general corporate work. Over time my practice evolved to support primarily US private equity clients investing into the mid-market in Canada. Since moving in-house I have had the opportunity to support our Ontario Teachers’ private equity team globally, as well as our other asset classes. Continue reading “‘Working in private markets keeps you on your toes’ – Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s Melanie Sanchez”

‘If you like a fast pace, private equity will deliver’ – CPP Investments Europe legal chief Leigh Partridge

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‘If you like a fast pace, private equity will deliver’ – CPP Investments Europe legal chief Leigh Partridge

Leigh Partridge – Managing director, head of legal (Europe), CPP Investments

Year of qualification: 2008
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, 2006-17
CPP Investments | Investissements RPC, 2017-present

I love the diversity of deals that come across my desk as a PE lawyer. The opportunity to learn about different sectors and businesses while still building deep relationships with colleagues. I am also one of those lawyers who likes the adrenaline rush of getting a deal over the line, and PE ticks that box. Continue reading “‘If you like a fast pace, private equity will deliver’ – CPP Investments Europe legal chief Leigh Partridge”

‘Do not wait until creditors are banging down the door’ – why preparation is key as restructurings pick up

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‘Do not wait until creditors are banging down the door’ – why preparation is key as restructurings pick up

Restructuring partners have been predicting a surge in corporate restructurings and insolvencies for years. But despite Covid, conflict and rising inflation the boom in such work has yet to materialise to any significant level.

Continue reading “‘Do not wait until creditors are banging down the door’ – why preparation is key as restructurings pick up”

Labour and employment: what the new government means for workers’ rights

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Labour and employment: what the new government means for workers’ rights

After 14 years of Conservative rule, the Labour Party swept into power on 4 July 2024, setting the stage for transformative changes in UK employment law. Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay promises a bold agenda of reforms aimed at boosting worker protection, ensuring fair pay, and modernising workplace practices. These sweeping changes will have significant implications for employers across various sectors. But what do these reforms mean for employers and their in-house lawyers, and how can they stay ahead of the curve?

Continue reading “Labour and employment: what the new government means for workers’ rights”

Antitrust renaissance: navigating deals amid agency crackdowns

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Antitrust renaissance: navigating deals amid agency crackdowns

‘The UK competition practice has been transformed by Brexit’ observes Nick Levy, a partner in Cleary Gottlieb’s London antitrust team.

It’s well documented that since the UK’s exit from the EU, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has embraced a position of intensified scrutiny, leading to parallel investigations and outcomes with the European Commission (EC). Continue reading “Antitrust renaissance: navigating deals amid agency crackdowns”