Prompted by the ongoing increase in class action claims, Hogan Lovells has strengthened its highly regarded competition litigation team with the addition of Andrew Leitch and Ed Coulson, a Legal 500-leading partner in competition litigation, both joining from BCLP.
With 15 years of experience in high-profile competition litigation cases, Coulson brings deep expertise in advising on complex matters, including collective proceedings and abuse of dominance claims. Leitch, who has represented both claimants and defendants in cases involving price-fixing cartels and abuse of dominance, brings experience across various industries, including industrial manufacturing and financial services.
Des Hogan, head of disputes, commented: ‘In recent years, we have seen a growing market in class action litigation in the competition area in the UK, with a wide range of claims now being re-formulated as competition claims to take advantage of the favorable class action regime in the CAT.’
‘Ed and Andrew’s expertise will greatly expand our competition litigation capabilities, enhance our market-leading collective actions practice, and ensure we remain at the forefront of this evolving market,’ he continued.
Elsewhere in the competition space, Jessica Radke will join Linklaters as senior counsel in its litigation, arbitration and investigations practice and antitrust and foreign investment group in London, set to join in May.
Currently deputy general counsel and senior director of litigation at the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Radke brings valuable experience from within the UK competition regulator. At the CMA, she worked on Competition Act 1998 appeals, judicial reviews of mergers and market investigations, and handled consumer cases and director disqualifications.
Alison Wilson, Linklaters’ global divisional practice head, litigation, arbitration and investigations, commented: ‘Jessica’s unique expertise in running litigation matters for the CMA, particularly in such high-profile cases, significantly enhances our contentious competition offering. With her specialist knowledge, Jessica also strengthens our capabilities in the consumer law and class actions space.’
Also in London, Baker Botts hired Mark Castillo-Bernaus as global projects partner and project finance group co-chair. Castillo-Bernaus joins from White & Case, where he previously served as global head of project finance.
‘Mark is widely regarded as a highly effective and strategic lawyer and has deep understanding of the complexities involved in project financing. He is a leading lawyer in the project finance sector, and his hiring represents a significant, strategic, and long-term investment from the firm’, said managing partner Danny David in a statement.
In the US, Simpson Thacher hired a quartet of registered funds partners from Willkie Farr & Gallagher, citing a growing client focus on retail market products. Anne Choe, Justin Browder, and Neesa Patel Sood have joined the firm in Washington DC, while Bissie Bonner has moved over in New York.
The team advises on fund structuring, launch, and operations, along with corporate governance for investment advisers and boards. Choe and Browder are noted for their expertise in SEC examinations and enforcement, with broad experience in regulatory matters involving pooled investment vehicles.
‘Simpson Thacher is the go-to advisor for alternative asset managers, many of whom view developing retail market products as central to their future growth plans,’ said Alden Millard, chair of the firm’s executive committee. ‘Adding this team will enable us to meet this increasing client demand.’ The team’s hire will bring the firm’s registered funds practice to nearly 25 partners.
The firm was also active in Boston, where it hired Zachary Hafer from Cooley and private funds partner Yonatan Levy from Ropes & Grey.
Hafer spent 14 years at the US attorney’s office in Massachusetts, including as chief of the criminal division, before moving to Cooley in 2021, and has extensive experience in the healthcare, life sciences, and financial services sectors.
Levy, meanwhile, advises fund sponsors on formation, fundraising, and operations. He joins after over 11 years at Ropes & Gray, where he made partner in 2022.
‘These additions underscore our commitment to Boston and will enhance our capabilities to address clients’ transactional, regulatory, enforcement and disputes needs in the region,” said Alden Millard, chair of Simpson Thacher’s executive committee.
In Europe, DLA Piper made moves in Madrid, appointing Legal 500 restructuring and insolvency leading partner Juan Verdugo to its global restructuring practice from Garrigues, effective in April.
Bringing a wealth of experience in complex restructuring and distressed debt matters, Verdugo is set to both support clients in Spain and collaborate with the firm’s distress-focused European team, which covers all key jurisdictions from Southern Europe to the Nordics.
Further afield, Eversheds Sutherland launched its consulting practice, Konexo, in the Middle East with the hire of Richard Chudzynski from PwC.
A leading expert in data protection, AI, and regulatory matters, Chudzynski founded and led PwC Legal’s Middle East data protection, regulatory, and AI governance practice since 2016. Based in Dubai, he will collaborate with the firm and Konexo’s global legal teams to provide comprehensive advice on data protection, privacy, regulatory compliance, cyber, and AI governance from both legal and consultancy perspectives.
In Saudi Arabia, Ashurst boosted its global financial regulatory practice with the hire of Raheel Butt, as the firm continues to expand its capabilities in the Middle East. Butt joins from White & Case, and brings over 17 years’ experience advising banks, asset and fund managers, brokers, custodians, and investors on Saudi regulatory issues and product launches.
In Singapore, CMS formal law alliance CMS Holborn Asia appointed Ying Yi Liew as a director in the Banking & Finance practice to lead the financial services regulatory practice from Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow, while Penningtons Manches Cooper hired shipping disputes partner Max Lim from Rajah & Tann.
Finally, in Sydney, Jones Day hired environment partner Elizabeth Wild to its government regulation practice. Joining from Norton Rose Fulbright, Wild brings over 30 years’ experience practicing in all areas of environmental law, with a particular focus on managing issues related to contaminated land and remediation law.
