Haynes and Boone, LLP has significantly expanded its international arbitration and litigation capabilities with the addition of four lawyers who have experience handling disputes on behalf of clients in a wide range of industries, including energy, construction, hospitality and hotels. The four lawyers (solicitor advocates and barristers) previously worked in the London office of Hunton Andrews Kurth. More >>

Eversheds Sutherland has strengthened its financial services group with the appointment of new funds Partner Ben Watford. Ben joins from MJ Hudson where he led the London hedge fund practice, is highly experienced in relation to the formation, liquidation and financing of investment funds. His clients include financial institutions, tier one fund managers, first time managers, high-net-worth individuals, sovereign investors, crypto investors and entrepreneurs.

Listed in the Legal 500 as a recommended lawyer for 2017, Ben’s practice has a particular emphasis on the structuring and establishment of onshore and offshore investment funds in various jurisdictions including the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, Ireland, UK, the Channel Islands and the US.

His expertise also includes structured finance, banking, securitisation and fixed income as well as refinancings, restructurings and derivatives. He regularly advises in relation to the AIFMD and on the establishment of FCA authorised entities in the UK.

The addition of Ben as a Partner further bolsters the financial services team following the establishment of the funds practice in Luxembourg and the hire of Partner Deborah Hutton in Dublin. Deborah, who joined Eversheds Sutherland last Friday (22 June) will be heading up the expansion of the asset management & regulatory practice in Ireland.

Commenting on the appointment, Michaela Walker, head of financial services said:

“Ben has established one of the leading hedge fund formation platforms in London and his addition to the team will enable us to offer clients expert advice in the hedge funds space as well as building our existing wider financial services capability. The group continues to go from strength to strength with additions in Luxembourg, Dublin and now London.”

Ben added:

“I am really excited to join a firm with a global platform and more specifically, a US presence, which will give me a great opportunity to leverage my existing network and develop a strong workflow across the US, Dublin, Luxembourg and London.”

Global law firm Reed Smith has today announced the appointment of Howard Womersley Smith as a partner in its IP, Tech & Data practice in the London office. Howard was previously a partner at Taylor Vinters. More >>

Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that market-leading financial services and regulatory partner Arun Srivastava will join the London office from Baker McKenzie, where he is head of the Financial Services Regulatory Group. Srivastava will lead Paul Hastings’ London regulatory and fintech and payments practice. More >>

Nicholas Dent has joined Locke Lord’s London office as a Partner in the Firm’s Labour & Employment Practice. Dent’s focus on advising clients in the financial and professional services and media sectors on the full range of their employment issues, including high-value discrimination and bonus claims, adds depth to the Firm’s Labour & Employment team and its growing London office. More >>

DLA Piper today announces that Martin Nelson-Jones will be joining the firm as a partner in its Corporate practice, based in London. Martin will be joining the firm from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he was a partner since 2001. More >>

Global law firm White & Case LLP has expanded its Global Commercial Litigation Practice with the addition of Chris Brennan as a new partner in London. More >>

International law firm Ashurst announces the appointment of Jonathan Walsh as a securitisation partner in the London global markets practice. More >>

Squire Patton Boggs has appointed the former head of the India Practice at Herbert Smith Freehills, Nimi Patel, as a director in its India Practice in London. More >>

Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that preeminent M&A partner Roger Barron will be joining the firm in London, having been a partner at Linklaters for more than 17 years. More >>