Legal Business Blogs

Revolving Doors: Freshfields, Dentons and Pinsents make key hires as Uber and Callcredit build in-house teams

Following a string of seven recent hires to its Advanced Manufacturing and Technology (AMT) sector, Pinsent Masons has boosted its corporate team with the appointment of TMT specialist Andrew McMillan to its AMT sector. Previously head of Simmons & Simmons TMT practice, McMillan brings experience in advising TMT corporates, investment banks and private equity houses on in-sector mergers and acquisitions and high-value commercial contracts.

In bar news, 39 Essex Chambers has welcomed Sian Davies and Edmund Townsend to the set. Called to the bar in 1999, Davies joins the set from Cornerstone Barristers. She specialises in a full range of public law matters including adult social service, children services, housing, immigration & asylum, EU law and Court of Protection. Civil law barrister Townsend joins 39 Essex from Farrar’s Building Chambers. Although he specialises in personal injury and insurance, Townsend undertakes work for both claimants and defendants across the spectrum of chambers’ practice areas.

In-house teams are not exempt from this week’s round up of hires. Callcredit Information Group has announced Colin Rutter as its chief risk officer and general counsel (GC). Previously GC at Experian Rutter said he was looking forward to joining the credit reference agency and consumer data management specialist which he believes will provide him with a new leadership challenge. Callcredit CEO Mike Gordon described Rutter as a ‘valuable asset’ to its leadership team. ‘With a distinguished legal career that includes extensive commercial, legal, compliance, risk, government affairs and regulatory experience working in the credit reference industry both in the UK and overseas markets, Colin will provide critical guidance as we look to double the business over the next five years and expand into international markets.’

Meanwhile, Uber has hired former DLA Piper commercial litigator Helen Fletcher to its team as its senior compliance and litigation counsel. With over ten years’ experience at the firm, Fletcher will bring her experience in complex IT disputes, with significant experience in high value public sector IT contracts.

In international appointments, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has hired one of the US Department of Justice’s (USDoJ) leading international white-collar prosecutors, Daniel Braun, who was most recently the deputy chief of the USDoJ’s fraud section of the criminal division. Braun will focus on the defense of investigations into alleged market misconduct and collusion, foreign bribery and corruption and economic sanctions and related issues for public companies and financial institutions for the firm. Freshfields global head of dispute resolution David Scott said: ‘Dan’s arrival is a wonderful addition to the leading regulatory enforcement team we have been building across the US, London, Europe and Asia. Our outstanding range of recent assignments that straddle multiple jurisdictions reflects our global clients’ demand for an integrated one-firm approach to handling their biggest and most complex challenges.’

Still in the US, Dentons has added former Pinsent Masons partner Meriam Alrashid to its New York office. The international arbitration lawyer will expand Dentons’ capabilities to counsel clients in complex disputes across key geographic markets. Alrashid has served as counsel in international disputes and transactions involving parties from nearly 20 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and North America. Dentons US managing partner Mike McNamara said: ‘Meriam’s experience in guiding clients through international investment disputes expands our capabilities as a leading international arbitration firm and builds upon our goal to strategically grow our exceptional team of award-winning international arbitrators in key regions.’

Fladgate has appointed Russia specialist and dispute resolution partner Eugene Matveichuk. Joining from Osborne Clarke, Matveichuk specialises in advising entrepreneurs, high net wealth individuals and corporates from Russia and the CIS on their international interests. The firm’s chairman Charles Wander said: ‘His extensive experience of advising businesses and individuals from Russia and the CIS will add gravitas to our growing capability in this field while his considerable expertise in dispute resolution will enhance our existing high profile in this area.’

madeleine.farman@legalease.co.uk