The merger talks-prompted exodus from Shearman & Sterling continued in recent days with the loss of EMEA and Asia M&A head Philip Cheveley to Sidley Austin in London.
The blow to Shearman will be even more keenly felt since the move represents a reversal for one of its stated ambitions to focus on corporate, and because Cheveley only joined from Travers Smith less than two years ago, in March 2021.
The City lateral market has been abuzz with activity, as major moves in the infrastructure, corporate, funds and real estate sectors have proven.
Paul Hastings has hired Linklaters co-heads of infrastructure Jessamy Gallagher and Stuart Rowson in London, significantly boosting its City credentials.
Continue reading “Revolving doors: Linklaters loses three as Macfarlanes takes Sidley funds head”
Globally speaking, it has been a tough week for Shearman & Sterling, which lost several partners amid rumours of merger negotiations with Hogan Lovells. King & Spalding took two partners; M&A-focused Thomas Philippe joined in Paris, while project development expert Dan Feldman arrived in Abu Dhabi.
Gibson Dunn brought in three partners from Shearman, as it announced a new office in Abu Dhabi. Legal 500 Hall of Famer Renad Younes was a headline arrival, having served as global head of finance and managing partner for the Middle East at her previous firm. Samuel Ogunlaja will also form part of the new office and focuses on project development and finance in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Jade Chu has joined the Dubai office. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Losses for Shearman as City elite target investigations”
Cleary Gottlieb has brought in Travers Smith’s respected head of private equity Ian Shawyer (pictured) to strengthen its City practice, as the firm continues its recently redoubled strategy of strengthening its corporate bench.
A Travers stalwart, Shawyer has spent almost all of his 25-year career at the firm, save for a brief stint at Weil Gotshal in 2005. His expertise spans a range of deals including leveraged buyouts, consortium deals, bolt-on acquisitions and carve-outs, while his client list includes Bridgepoint Development Capital and The Carlyle Group.
The festive season has not deterred firms from making significant lateral moves, with disputes, restructuring, competition and tax among the areas targeted for strategic growth among global players.
In London, Winston & Strawn made a rare lateral move, recruiting restructuring partner Paul Fleming. Previously head of corporate restructuring at Addleshaw Goddard (AG), Fleming advises creditors, stakeholders, insolvency practitioners and directors. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Winston & Strawn builds City restructuring team as Linklaters makes disputes play”
As the year-end approaches, US firms have dominated this week’s hiring round with additions across London’s transactional and disputes practices.
WilmerHale bolstered its London white-collar defence practice with the addition of Richard Burger. Burger – who is ranked as a leading individual by The Legal 500 and described as ‘a standout practitioner in the disciplinary/regulatory field’ – is a former enforcement lawyer and prosecutor with the Financial Services Authority and has experience defending clients in criminal and regulatory investigations.
Continue reading “White & Case adds BCLP funds head as WilmerHale strengthens white-collar practice”
The approaching festive period has not led to a cooling of the recruitment market, with corporate structuring, M&A, tax and IP expertise topping firms’ wishlists.
It was a busy period for Morrison Foerster, with the firm recruiting an IP team in London. The group is led by Steven James, who joins as a partner from Brown Rudnick, where he headed the UK and European IP group. Other members of the team include of counsel Ruth Arkley and senior associate Hattie Chessher.
With sterling rallying against the dollar, firms have continued to show their commitment to the London market with significant hires this week.
Allen & Overy has hired Marwa Elborai, who has defected to the magic circle after more than 16 years at Shearman & Sterling. US qualified leveraged finance partner Elborai —who is ranked as a leading individual by The Legal 500 which describes her as ‘exceptional’ with ‘excellent sector knowledge, skills and commercial acumen’ — was promoted in 2016 and brings experience in high-yield debt offerings, US federal securities law, leveraged finance, project bond offerings, general debt capital markets transactions and debt restructurings. Continue reading “Revolving doors: A&O hires Shearman finance partner while Goodwin launches employment practice”
Cleary has turned to Linklaters M&A partner Nick Rumsby to boost its corporate offering in the City, in what will be seen as an impressive coup for the Wall Street firm’s usually cautious London strategy.
A Linklaters lifer, Rumsby has an enviable track record of advising on market-leading public M&A deals in recent years. Particular highlights include Greene King’s £2.7bn sale to Hong Kong real estate group CKA and G4S’s hostile £3.7bn offer from Garda World Security and the recommended £3.8bn offer from Allied Universal. Continue reading “Cleary makes rare City M&A lateral play with hire of Linklaters deal star Rumsby”
This week’s round up has an overseas focus, as firms prioritised international moves over the London market.
The headline City hire was made by Macfarlanes, which announced the arrival of pensions partner Faye Jarvis. Joining from Hogan Lovells, where she spent 15 years, Jarvis is experienced in advising employers and trustees on scheme mergers, funding arrangements, liability management exercises and the pensions elements of corporate transactions. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Linklaters establishes US energy head as Macfarlanes takes Hogan Lovells pensions partner”
