International law firm Akin Gump today announces that the London and Frankfurt offices of Bingham McCutchen, along with a group of partners from Bingham’s Hong Kong office, will join the firm. With this 22-partner expansion, Akin Gump will grow its London and Hong Kong offices markedly and will also open the firm’s first office in Germany. The move will be effective over the coming weeks.
The move will bring together Akin Gump’s financial restructuring practice in the United States, led by partners Daniel Golden, Ira Dizengoff, Fred Hodara and Mike Stamer, with the London-based leaders of Bingham’s financial restructuring group, partners James Roome, Barry Russell and James Terry. The combination cements Akin Gump’s reputation as the home of a top-tier global financial restructuring practice and adds substantial depth to the firm’s corporate, finance, disputes, regulatory and tax practices while significantly increasing the firm’s international footprint.
The firm further expects to welcome a number of additional attorneys from Bingham soon in London, Hong Kong and Frankfurt.
“This will be transformative in enhancing our brand as a leading global firm,” commented 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, and will build upon our own very strong teams in these and other areas. This move also helps us diversify into key areas across Europe and Asia and highlights our commitment to clients in these crucial markets. It is exceedingly rare to be able to welcome a group that has the stature and incredible fit presented by this group. They truly are the dream team, and I could not be more excited to introduce them to our clients.”
Bingham’s financial restructuring practice is ranked in the top tier by Legal 500, Chambers UK and IFLR 1000 and is recognized as “the premier noteholder practice in the market” (UK Legal 500). In addition to financial restructuring, the attorneys expected to join Akin Gump bring tremendous experience in finance and financial services, financial and commercial dispute resolution, corporate M&A and private equity, EU/UK competition and tax.
Sebastian Rice, who will be managing partner of Akin Gump’s London office, commented, “The synergies of our combined international practices, together with the incoming team’s strength in London, make this union strategically compelling. 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 here in London, in Hong Kong and in established and emerging markets across the globe.”
James Roome, who will be senior partner in London, commented, “We are delighted to join Akin Gump. Our financial restructuring team has, for many years, admired their stellar practice in the United States, which represents many of the same clients that we do. The combination of our practices in London, Hong Kong and Frankfurt with Akin Gump’s financial restructuring team in the United States and excellent 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.”
Daniel Golden added, “We have known and closely watched, over many years, how James, Barry and James built the leading noteholder practice in Europe and were struck by how the development of their practice mirrored that of our own. Often during that time, our team talked about the dynamic of a possible combination of these practice groups. Now, that talk is becoming reality, and we are thrilled about what is in store for us, our firm and our clients.”
Source: www.akingump.com
