Linklaters LLP has said it will be strategically recruiting four finance partners from the newly formed A&O Shearman in New York. It said that it will concentrate on expansion in the US by hiring four new finance partners from the newly formed A&O Shearman in New York. These four partners will join Linklaters’ finance practice and practice in derivatives, securitization, and restructuring.
This is the latest step that Linklaters, days after acquiring a six-lawyer mergers and acquisitions team from Shearman & Sterling ahead of that firm’s merger with Allen & Overy to form A&O Shearman on May 1. The mergers reshape the competitive landscape in some of the most active corners of the market-between the top law firms battling each other for share-and particularly significant for UK-based law firms looking to get on the map in the United States.
George Casey, former global managing partner at Shearman, has been appointed as global chairman of corporate at Linklaters. Former Shearman partner Heiko Schiwek has also been appointed as the global leader for Linklaters’ chemicals sector. These appointments show the consolidation of seasoned legal talent within the U.S. operations of Linklaters.
The hiring of these veteran lawyers reflects a firm intent on further consolidation of finance strengths in the face of increased competition. Aedamar Comiskey, senior partner and chair, said adding top-tier U.S. legal talent remains a “key priority” for the firm, which recently reported a substantial 24% surge in U.S. market revenues this year.
In fact, Linklaters also reported some high-profile hiring during the last several months, such as when the global firm hired Joseph Profaizer as global co-head of international arbitration from Paul Hastings. And finally, Michael Torkin became head of US capital solutions and special situations by moving in from Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett.
He adds three newcomers to the partnership with significant backgrounds. David Lucking coheads global finance markets at A&O Shearman and is a possible successor to manage partner. Linklaters gains another boost for its US asset finance practice, where colleagues Hwang will continue leading that practice for the firm and Poon leads securitization.
Outspoken A&O Shearman bid adieu and welcomed the lawyers to their future endeavors as “a strategic move on its part to consolidate a very small market share, demonstrating a trend in the firms in UK in getting into the US market”.
