Legal Business

Fintech play: Hogan Lovells hires Pinsent Masons financial services chief Salmon

Hogan Lovells has made a key hire in the City with Pinsent Masons financial services chief John Salmon, in a bid to better position itself for opportunities in the burgeoning financial technology (fintech) market.

Salmon will sit in the firm’s corporate practice and serve as an ‘active member’ of the financial institutions and TMT sectors.

A partner at Pinsent Masons since 1999, Salmon was appointed to head its finance practice in 2012, and before this served as insurance head. Having acted for clients including AXA, Royal London, Aviva and Zurich, Salmon focuses on advising financial institutions on innovative digital projects including IT procurement, outsourcing, cyber security, and digital payments.

Hogan Lovells global head of financial institutions Rachel Kent said: ‘The UK and Ireland is currently the fastest growing region for Fintech investment making this the ideal time to grow our Fintech practice with the hire of John, whose experience complements perfectly that of our regulatory, commercial, and cyber teams.’

The firm established a strategic partnership with Innovate Finance, the UK’s fintech trade association, in November, as firms respond to provide resources for the growing industry.

In November Legal Business also revealed Hogan Lovells’ appointment of Dubai-based Latham & Watkins corporate duo Charles Fuller and Andrew Tarbuck, along with finance partner Anthony Pallett.

sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk

To read more on the fintech industry see: ‘Comment: UK’s fintech boom is set to dazzle but advisers are still struggling to respond’