Ropes & Gray has seen two more departures from its London private equity practice, with partner duo Dan Oates and Angela Becker understood to be on the verge of a move to Akin.
Oates and Becker, who have both been at Ropes since spring 2022, also previously worked together at Fried Frank.
Oates spent over seven years at the US firm, before which he was also a partner at Kirkland & Ellis. Becker is the more junior of the pair, making partner at Fried Frank in 2022 just prior to their move to Ropes.
Their exits are the latest in a series of departures for Ropes’ London PE practice, following Helen Croke’s move to White & Case in June and PE real estate duo David Seymour and Will Bryant joining Freshfields in July.
Earlier in the year Simon Saitowitz – who also joined Ropes in 2022 from Fried Frank – left to return to Weil Gotshal & Manges, where he had previously worked as an associate.
The firm has, however, ramped up its European presence with the launch of a new office in Milan in September, hiring private equity partner Cataldo Piccarreta from Latham & Watkins. Piccareta, who has led on deals for funds including EQT and Bain Capital, will lead the firm’s efforts to capture a share of the increasing investment flowing into the country from buyout houses.
The Italy launch came after the firm also opened an office in Paris in March, with the hire of a three-partner team from Clifford Chance, its first on the European mainland.
Key names in the London team include John Newton and Elizabeth Todd, who co-lead the European private equity transactions practice alongside Piccarreta and Paris partner Fabrice Cohen.
A Ropes spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that Dan Oates and Angela Becker have resigned from the firm. We thank them for their contribution to the firm and wish them well.’
Akin’s London office is currently undergoing a shakeup which will see long-serving City chief Sebastian Rice – himself a private equity specialist – succeeded by new London leadership.
Finance partner Ezra Zahabi has been appointed as London partner-in-charge, with Rice, who has held the role for almost 12 years, set to leave to become GC of Dubai-based telecoms and digital services company VEON.
Zahabi will work alongside restructuring heavyweight Barry Russell, who has been appointed as London senior partner.
