Revolving Doors: Davis Polk hires magic circle PE partner as Kirkland opens in Frankfurt

Davis Polk has employed an A&O Shearman company actual property companion in London, whereas Milbank and Kirkland choose off expertise from Latham.

Davis Polk expanded in London with its rent of A&O Shearman PE companion Gordon Milne. The transfer brings Davis Polk’s London companion headcount to 11, based mostly on numbers reported on the agency’s web site.

Although Davis Polk opened in London in 1973, it has maintained solely a small presence within the metropolis. This yr, nevertheless, it has signalled its intention to construct, with Milne’s rent coming simply months after the agency introduced it was bringing in Paul Hastings world finance cohead and Authorized 500 acquisition finance main companion Luke McDougall in April.

‘Now we have recognized our London workplace as an space ripe for progress’, mentioned managing companion Neil Barr in an announcement. ‘Gordon is very revered out there and represents an essential step within the execution of our technique to construct out our UK personal fairness capabilities.’

Europe apply head Will Pearce added: ‘Gordon is among the preeminent personal fairness practitioners in London, with a formidable portfolio of longstanding fund purchasers. We’re completely delighted to have him on board.’

Milne’s departure comes after 24 years at legacy Allen & Overy and A&O Shearman. His apply covers a variety of cross-border M&A and company finance transactions, with highlights together with advising the consortium on the sale of New Scientist Group to Day by day Mail and Basic Belief (DMGT) and advising Exponent Non-public Fairness on quite a lot of multimillion-pound transactions together with its gross sales of BBI Group and BBI Healthcare and its acquisition of TRS Group.

In the meantime, Milbank has introduced the rent of a six-strong staff of finance attorneys from Latham & Watkins, headed by collateralized mortgage obligation (CLO) companion Alex Martin.

The transfer was introduced on the identical day that it was reported that Sidley Austin had tapped Latham for a staff of 5 leveraged finance companions led by Jayanthi Sadanandan and Sam Hamilton. The twin exits imply that Latham’s finance platform has misplaced 11 attorneys in fast succession, six of them companions. 

Martin’s staff consists of Kristine Kozicki, who joins as particular counsel, and 4 extra associates. The six will be part of Milbank’s different funding apply. Milbank Chairman Scott Edelman mentioned in an announcement: ‘Alex’s intensive expertise with CLO issues is very suitable with our world Different Investments apply, and his distinctive focus will each complement and improve the staff’s work throughout all of our workplaces.’

Elsewhere within the Metropolis, Fried Frank has employed Freshfields company actual property companion Roger Schofield, who will change workplaces in September. Specialising in actual property joint ventures, capital options, acquisitions and tendencies, Schofield joins after a 16-year stint at Freshfields, 5 of these as a companion.

Head of Fried Frank’s company actual property apply Fiona Kelly mentioned in an announcement: ‘His expertise in guiding purchasers via advanced structured actual property transactions and capital options is an ideal complement to our dynamic staff.’

On mainland Europe, senior M&A lawyer Tobias Larisch is about to affix Kirkland & Ellis to launch the agency’s new Frankfurt workplace. The brand new website is Kirkland’s first in Europe because it launched in Brussels in 2021 and would be the agency’s second workplace in Germany, nearly 20 years after it opened in Munich in early 2005.

Larisch will be part of from Latham, the place he serves as regional chair of the agency’s company division. He advises on M&A, public takeovers, joint ventures and carve-outs and has a deal with the power and infrastructure sectors.

In an announcement, chairman of Kirkland’s govt committee Jon Ballis mentioned: ‘As considered one of Germany’s main M&A attorneys, Tobias’ experience and deal expertise match very properly inside the areas the place we see growing demand for our providers.’ Ballis continued, ‘opening a Frankfurt workplace will make obtainable to us a brand new pool of main authorized expertise seeking to work on among the most advanced transactions in Germany.’

Additionally in Frankfurt, McDermott Will & Emery has strengthened its world transactions apply with the rent of Alexander Klein as a companion from Gibson Dunn. He brings with him experience advising on acquisition financing, company finance and syndicated lending for each home and worldwide transactions.

Matthias Kampshoff, managing companion of McDermott’s Germany workplaces mentioned in an announcement: ‘Alexander’s appointment helps our technique of making a number one German personal fairness and finance service for our purchasers. Alexander’s arrival may be very welcome, as our finance staff in Germany has been exceptionally busy this yr.’

Tom.Cox@legalease.co.uk