Akin Gump boosts global offering with the addition of 25 partners from Bingham McCutchen
FRIDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2014
International law firm Akin Gump has recruited 25 partners from Bingham McCutchen across its London, Hong Kong and Frankfurt offices. The appointment follows a series of announcements made by Akin Gump in September regarding its potential recruitment plans.
The firm also anticipates further partner and associate arrivals in Hong Kong over the coming weeks, totalling 60 fee earners arriving from Bingham McCutchen.
“This will be transformative in enhancing our brand as a leading global firm,” said Kim Koopersmith, Akin Gump’s chairperson. “The attorneys joining us are hugely respected for their strength in areas that are key to our firm and clients including financial restructuring, finance, disputes, tax, regulatory and corporate.”
21 Bingham partners have joined the London office of Akin Gump, including top insolvency practitioners James Roome, Barry Russell and James Terry.
Roome, who is a senior partner, concentrates on UK and cross-border insolvency, workouts and restructurings; he also advises on a wide range of debt and equity investments on behalf of financial institutions.
Russell’s practice, spanning two decades, includes representing investors, lenders and other creditors in cross-border workouts and financial restructurings. Alongside him, Terry focuses on cross-border and domestic financial restructuring, workouts and insolvency representing financial clients in relation to strategic and legal issues concerning their distressed debt and special situation investments.
All three partners are listed in Who’s Who Legal: Insolvency & Restructuring. They are joined at the London office of Akin Gump by a further three lawyers coming from Bingham McCutchen.
Davina Garrod, who is listed in Who’s Who Legal: Competition, advises multinationals, corporates and financial institutions on M&A, strategic alliances and restructurings.
Sarah Smith, listed in Who’s Who Legal: Capital Markets, focuses on structured finance, general finance and restructuring matters; meanwhile Thiha Tun, featured in Who’s Who Legal: Private Funds, represents fund managers as well as major investors on the organisation of funds, club deals and customised investment solutions.
Sebastian Rice, managing partner of Akin Gump’s London office, said that the collection of international practices makes the union “strategically compelling”. He adds: “The combined European and Asian capabilities will not only considerably improve our client offerings in multiple jurisdictions, but also provide significant leverage in terms of our ability to present ourselves to potential clients in London, Hong Kong and in established and emerging markets across the globe.”
“We are delighted to join Akin Gump,” added Roome, who shares leadership duties with Rice. “The combination of our practices in London, Hong Kong and Frankfurt with Akin Gump’s financial restructuring team in the United States and its energy, telecoms and investment funds practices in Europe and Asia will be a major step forward for our team. We are all thrilled to be part of this once-in-a-career opportunity.”
