Akin Gump today announced that Stephen Brown has joined the firm as a partner in the firm’s London office. Mr. Brown brings substantial experience advising private equity sponsors and public companies on executive employment issues and in relation to the structuring and taxation of share schemes and management incentive arrangements and their taxation, in the U.K. and internationally. Stephen Brown joins Akin Gump from Icon Law LLP.
With experience in both employment law and compensation and benefits, Mr. Brown focuses on supporting private equity sponsors on the employment and incentivization of management teams and the structuring of tax-efficient equity and carry structures. He leads on the negotiation, drafting and implementation of the management equity piece in private equity-backed acquisitions and focuses on aligning rewards for the leadership team with the creation of value for investors over a multiyear period.
“Stephen has an impressive practice that fits squarely with the needs of our clients,” commented Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “He will provide further support to our private equity and corporate clients, which is a key component of our strategic growth. His arrival will continue our success in London, and I am delighted he has joined the firm.”
Sebastian Rice, managing partner of Akin Gump’s London office, added, “Stephen’s highly commercial and skilled approach is focused on finding and developing innovative approaches to tax and structuring—in particular of buyouts—as well as incentive and related governance matters. He will play a key role in expanding the firm’s tax and incentives and private equity teams in London and will be a tremendous asset to our clients.”
Added Stephen Brown, “I am looking forward to bringing my experience in executive employment and management equity and investments to Akin Gump and to enhancing the London practice’s strong service offering to sponsors and their portfolio companies as well as to public companies. I am excited to be a part of a successful and thriving London team.”
This new role will work closely with the firm’s private equity and corporate/M&A teams, as well as the tax team in London, which recently saw Serena Lee promoted to partner, effective January 1, 2022. More details about the firm’s 2022 promotions to partner are available here.
About Stephen Brown
Prior to Icon Law, he spent 18 years at Latham & Watkins where he was a partner in the employment and incentives practice, advising private equity sponsors and corporate clients and leading the European employment and incentives team. Stephen is a Meyler Campbell business and leadership coach. He qualified in Scotland in 1991 and to practice English law in 2001.
About Akin Gump in London
Akin Gump’s London office is the hub for the firm’s international practice. The firm’s strategy in London is to grow practices that complement its core strengths. This has resulted in the growth of a fully integrated office, advising clients at the top of their respective markets.
Core strengths on which the office is founded include financial restructuring, corporate transactions (including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and private equity), finance (including acquisition finance, fund finance, structured finance, special situations, private placements and direct lending), global project finance, energy and natural resources, debt and equity capital markets, financial services regulatory, disputes and international arbitration, investment funds (hedge, private equity, real estate and infrastructure), EU competition, international trade and tax.
The integrated nature of the practice means that the firm’s London lawyers work closely, and on a regular basis, with their counterparts across the globe. The work of the firm’s London lawyers has been recognized in leading legal and industry publications, including Chambers UK, The Legal 500 UK, IFLR1000 and numerous others.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers and advisors in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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Source: www.akingump.com
