Clifford Probability has employed some of the well-known M&A companions within the Metropolis, Bruce Embley, who beforehand served as co-head of Freshfields’ world M&A shopper group earlier than leaving for Skadden in 2020.
Embley (pictured) recognised as a Authorized 500 main associate for premium M&A offers, is leaving Skadden after simply over 4 years to return to the magic circle, after spending the primary 15 years of his profession at Freshfields.
‘His experience aligns with shoppers’ wants and he will probably be working with us collectively to develop the follow,’ CC’s world head of personal fairness Jonny Myers advised Authorized Enterprise. ‘We’re rising quickly, and he’s very supportive of that journey.’
The rent comes as Clifford Probability replenishes its ranks after the departure of Christopher Sullivan to Paul Weiss’s M&A follow amid the elite US agency’s aggressive drive to construct a top-tier company follow simply over a yr in the past. Sullivan’s departure got here as a shock to most, as CC’s PE follow had been comparatively impervious to market forces, with the final big-name departures courting again a number of years.
Embley brings with him greater than 25 years of expertise advising on PE and M&A transactions throughout sectors resembling monetary companies, power, and telecommunications. He’ll be a part of CC to help its present shopper base, which contains common shoppers resembling EQT, Blackstone, and Permira.
‘He’s not coming in to move a shopper,’ continued Myers. ‘He’s coming as a result of he matches the group. There will probably be some overlap, and there will probably be those that he is aware of, however we’re within the particular person, not their shopper relationships.’
Simply final week, Clifford Probability employed fund finance companions Aimee Sharman and Matt Lilley from Mayer Brown in London, and searching forward, Spencer Baylin, head of CC’s London PE group, which presently contains 12 companions, stated that the agency stays open to additional hiring.
‘We clearly obtain CVs all year long,’ Baylin advised LB. ‘It’s at all times very tough for us as a result of we’ve got such excessive requirements when it comes to high quality, tradition, integrity, and match. We’re not rising for development’s sake; it’s obtained to be the fitting individual.’
Embley’s rent is a part of a continued push for development in CC’s personal capital group globally. In October, the agency employed personal fairness associate David Schultz and restructuring associate Matthew Hinker from O’Melveny & Myers in New York.
On pushing forward with the agency’s US technique, Myers added: ‘We cowl shoppers globally. Nobody individual owns a shopper, they contribute to the relationships as a complete. Shoppers are transacting on an ever extra worldwide foundation, the market is turning into ever extra advanced, and that requires actual experience and deep sophistication.’
Elsewhere, the agency employed personal fairness associate Jamie McLaren in Singapore final February from HSF, following the hires of Arnaud Fromion and Frédéric Guilloux to its world monetary markets group, who each joined from Goodwin in December 2023.
A Skadden spokesperson stated: ‘We thank Bruce for his contributions to our agency over the previous 5 years and admire his efforts, as he embarks on his subsequent chapter.’
elisha.juttla@legalease.co.uk
