Strategic recruitment news, updates and analysis | Page 1 of 112

With echoes of David Higgins’ landmark $10m switch in 2017 , Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has lost two up-and-coming private equity rising stars to US rival Kirkland & Ellis.

Freshfields lifer Vincent Bergin, who was made partner last year, arrives at Kirkland with an impressive back catalogue of clients, including private equity shops EQT ) and CVC Capital Partners. The other hire is Keir MacLennan – promoted in 2019, MacLennan specialises in high-profile and complex mergers and acquisitions, carve-outs, take-privates and exits for both financial sponsors and corporates. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Kirkland picks up Freshfields private equity stars again as seven partners depart pre-IPO Mishcon”

In a headline week for the London disputes market, a three-partner antitrust litigation team from Quinn Emanuel’s market-leading practice has decamped to Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

The team is spearheaded by partner Boris Bronfentrinker, who notably led on the landmark £14bn Mastercard interchange fee Supreme Court case last December. He will be joined by fellow contentious competition partners Elaine Whiteford and Nicola Chesaites as well as a team of eight associates. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Disputes dominate as Willkie and HFW make major London team hires”

Amid another hefty round of parner recruitment, Ashurst has made a senior hire in London, bringing in Jacques McChesney as a partner from Shearman & Sterling to boost its high yield practice. Prior to Shearman, McChesney was a partner at Latham & Watkins.

McChesney advises clients on restructurings, debt tender/consent solicitations and private placements in multiple jurisdictions across Europe. ‘Jacques is an exceptional practitioner with a great breadth of experience,’ said Anna-Marie Slot, Ashurst’s global head of high yield. ‘Our practice continues to focus on advising on first-of-a-kind and complex deals for clients to capitalise on the high yield opportunities across EMEA. Adding Jacques’ significant expertise and established reputation is an important next step in further building our offering.’ Continue reading “Revolving doors: Ashurst makes senior high yield hire from Shearman as WilmerHale sees double departure to G100 rivals”

The past week has seen a number of moves between Global 100 players in Europe, as well as some significant hires in Asia and the UK.

McDermott Will & Emery has hired antitrust partner Frédéric Pradelles from Latham & Watkins in Paris. He is recognised for his strength in French and European competition law and regularly advises major French and international companies active in the banking/finance, services, transport, media, hospitality and information technology sectors on issues relating to abuse of dominance, cartels and distribution. Continue reading “Revolving doors: McDermott makes Paris antitrust move as HSF bolsters German corporate offering”

Stephenson Harwood has made a significant addition to its restructuring practice, hiring former Allen & Overy partner Tim Crocker in London. A non-contentious finance expert who left A&O last year, Crocker has over 20 years’ experience advising clients on complex debt restructurings and insolvencies.

Tammy Samuel, head of finance at Stephenson Harwood, said Crocker’s hire was in line with an expected uptick in restructuring as governments gradually remove pandemic state support. She commented: ‘For many businesses, the coming months and years will be crunch time, when they need to critically assess the changes they might need to make in order to ensure their long-term success. That’s where the experience and understanding of specialists like Tim will really come into its own, and why R&I – on both the contentious and non-contentious sides – is something we’re actively looking to grow at the firm.’ Continue reading “Revolving doors: Stephenson Harwood lands former A&O partner in restructuring push”

Headlining a hectic week of partner recruitment, Shoosmiths has landed in-house veteran and former Telefónica UK general counsel Ed Smith as a commercial partner.

It marks a return to private practice 20 years after leaving Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for Smith (pictured), who will link up with Shoosmiths in October. A well-respected in-house leader, Smith left the telecoms giant in July just as the £31bn merger between parent company 02 and Virgin Media was being finalised. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Shoosmiths calls up Telefónica GC as post-summer recruitment spree begins”

It was a significant week of expansion for Sidley as it made a trio of eye-catching partner hires in London. Private equity partners Dan Graham and Paul Dunbar and finance partner Emilie Stewart have all joined from Vinson & Elkins, marking a serious investment in the City.

Graham focuses on advising private equity funds on wide range of transactions while Dunbar’s practice spans private equity M&A, real estate private equity, distressed asset transactions and non-performing loan acquisitions. Meanwhile, Stewart concentrates on cross-border financing deals, also with a focus on real estate private equity. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Sidley makes triple acquisition among spate of senior City hires”

In a more muted round of lateral partner recruitment as August draws to a close, Dechert, King & Spalding and Dentons have all strengthened their global benches while boutique firm Avonhurst has hired a London disputes veteran.

Dechert has significantly expanded its San Francisco operations by making two lateral partner hires and relocating two further partners from its US offices. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Dechert makes double hire in California as King & Spalding lures Brussels head”

In a week of significant international expansion, Withers has added four lateral partners to its global benches while Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle has founded a new Saudi Arabia base.

Two of the new Withers partners are US-based: Samantha Klein joins as a partner from Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles to launch a new family law practice in Los Angeles. She is recognised as one of the top family lawyers in LA, typically advising high-net-worth and high-profile clients in the sports and entertainment industries. Continue reading “Revolving doors: Withers makes global splash with four partner hires as Curtis opens in Saudi Arabia”