BLP Continues to Strengthen Corporate M&A Offering with Hire of Alan Paul

Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tags:  Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
International law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) announced today that it has recruited one of the most highly-rated and respected M&A lawyers in London, Alan Paul, to its Corporate practice. =

Alan has worked on some of the largest and highest profile UK, cross-border and multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions in the market, including some 150 UK public takeovers.  
He has acted as lead M&A adviser to a wide range of UK public companies, multi-national blue chip corporations, banks and private equity sponsors.  In particular he has extensive experience in advising some of the largest US-based corporations on their cross-border M&A activities.  This complements the strong experience in Asia of BLP’s other recent specialist M&A hire, David Barnes who joined the firm in March.  
Alan’s experience and market reputation will further enhance the strength and depth of BLP’s Corporate practice as it continues its upward trajectory.
The development of BLP’s Corporate business is reflected in the volume, value and international dimension of the transactions which it has led for its clients. The practice, whose clients include Tesco, Balfour Beatty and Blackstone, has more than 100 corporate finance specialists globally. It recently advised a consortium led by Gerald Ronson’s Snax 24 on the acquisition of Total’s UK downstream logistics and marketing operations. A multi-office team also advised on the US$1bn sale of part of the Bakrie Group’s interest in Bumi, a London listed natural resources group with the largest coal producing assets in Indonesia.
BLP has advised on more than 20 equity capital market transactions since 2011 and was named Best Advisor Legal at the 2012 UK Stock Market Awards.
John Bennett, BLP’s head of Corporate, commented: “The upward momentum of our Corporate practice remains a strategic priority for the firm.  Alan is a very welcome addition to the team given the strength and depth of his M&A experience, particularly at the higher end, and his almost unrivalled involvement in public takeover situations.”
Alan Paul said: “There are exciting developments taking place at BLP as they balance investment in their home grown team with external recruitment. I look forward to being able to make my contribution to the firm’s ambitious plans for its international corporate practice.”