Skadden has made a pair of high-profile partner hires in just one day, building its offices in Brussels and London with hires in competition and disputes, respectively.
In Brussels, the firm has hired former Freshfields co-global managing partner and antitrust specialist Rafique Bachour.
The move comes after Bachour, who has spent over 25 years at Freshfields, recently stepped down from his role as one of three global managing partners at the firm.
He had held the position since 2021, working alongside the London-based Alan Mason and Germany corporate partner Rick van Aerssen, as well as senior partner Georgia Dawson.
When Freshfields reappointed Dawson to a second term last year, the firm said Bachour was stepping back from the leadership role ‘to focus on his market-leading client practice’.
During his career he has worked with clients including sovereign wealth funds and multinational corporations on antitrust and regulatory elements of M&A, joint venture and foreign investment deals.
He has recently been advising Canadian mining company Teck Resources on its $53bn merger with Anglo American, a deal which would create one of the world’s largest copper companies. That deal, on which Freshfields is working alongside elite US firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, is expected to be approved in February of this year.
Bachour will join Skadden’s antitrust and competition team in Brussels, which currently holds a tier two ranking in Legal 500’s EMEA guide.
The team’s other key names include European practice head Ingrid Vandenborre and Bill Batchelor, both of whom are recognised as leading partners. Fellow Brussels partner Frederic Depoortere retired at the end of 2025.
Of his move, Bachour said in a statement: ‘Skadden’s global reach and standing in the market create an exceptional platform to help clients navigate issues across sectors and jurisdictions. I look forward to working with the firm’s outstanding lawyers worldwide as we support clients facing increasingly intricate regulatory, investigative and geopolitical challenges.’
Skadden executive partner Jeremy London added: ‘Rafique is a prominent and high-calibre antitrust and competition attorney with an exceptional blend of cross-border regulatory experience and strategic, business-oriented thinking.’
‘We have continued to grow in Brussels over the last few years, and his joining will further support our plans for the office and the wider global antitrust/competition Group,’ said London.
Freshfields’ global antitrust, competition and trade group is led by Alastair Chapman, who works alongside London head James Aitken. Key names in Brussels include Andreas von Bonin, who leads the antitrust group in the office, and Onno Brouwer, who jointly heads the firm’s global antitrust litigation group.
A spokesperson at Freshfields said of Bachour’s departure: ‘We wish Rafique all the best.’
Meanwhile, Skadden has also hired Sophie Lamb KC from Latham & Watkins’ London office.
Lamb joins the firm after nearly a decade at Latham, including time spent as global co-chair of the international arbitration practice. She also served as the UK’s representative on the ICC Court of Arbitration until 2022, and is recognised by Legal 500 in the Hall of Fame for international arbitration and as a leading partner in public international law.
She brings expertise acting for clients including major corporates, soverign states, and private equity houses before a range of tribunals and courts.
Her hire brings the firm’s total number of KCs to three, with Lamb joining Europe international litigation and arbitration group head Kate Jackson-McGill KC and Daniel Gal KC
Commenting on the hire, Skadden executive partner London said: ‘Sophie is an exciting addition to our market-leading International Arbitration & Litigation team, which we are continuing to invest in, particularly in the London market.
‘Her experience, deep international networks, and proven track record guiding high-value, cross-border matters further strengthen our ability to provide clients with world-class representation in complex, high-stakes disputes across jurisdictions.’
Lamb added: ‘Skadden’s global platform, its stellar reputation and breadth of experience provide an exceptional opportunity to further support clients navigating challenging international disputes. I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues across the firm.’
A Latham spokesperson said: ‘We thank Sophie for her contributions to the firm and wish her all the best in her next endeavour.’
