Leading global law firm Baker McKenzie has continued to expand its transactional practices with the appointment of Finance Partner Matthew Cox in its Banking & Finance practice, and Megan Schellinger as a Partner in its Capital Markets practice.
Matthew, who joins the Firm in February from Ropes & Gray, has extensive leveraged and acquisition finance experience, with a particular focus on acting for top tier sponsor clients. Recent matters include acting for Bain Capital and Hellman & Friedman. He also regularly advises both borrowers and lenders on special situations, real estate finance and direct lending. Matthew's hire follows that of Banking & Finance partners Geoff O'Dea and Matthew Smith, who joined the Firm from Freshfields and Travers Smith respectively in September 2017. The Firm also hired Alex Lewis from Ropes & Gray who joined as a Private Equity Partner in April 2017.
Megan joins the Firm in March from Linklaters, and is an experienced US qualified securities lawyer with deep Capital Markets expertise, across Equity and Debt Capital Markets. She has advised clients across a broad range of transactions, including IPOs, secondary offerings, spin-offs, investment grade and high yield debt offerings and liability management transactions. In 2016, the Firm hired James Thompson as a Capital Markets partner from Linklaters.
London Managing Partner Alex Chadwick, said: ""We continue to strengthen and enhance our global transactional practices organically and through key lateral hires. Megan and Matthew's appointments mark the next phase of our growth strategy, as we seek to achieve greater critical mass and benchstrength in our Corporate, Private Equity, Tax and Banking & Finance practices. I'm delighted to welcome them both to the Firm.""
Commenting on Matthew Cox's appointment, London Head of Banking & Finance Nick Tostivin, added: ""Matthew is another stellar hire for us. He is a highly experienced and respected name in the market and will work closely with both the Banking & Finance and Private Equity teams to further build out our leveraged finance capabilities in London and across Europe. We look forward to welcoming him to our growing team.""
In June 2017, the Firm promoted five Senior Associates to Partner in London: Susie Davies (Corporate); Kim Sartin (Employment); Jennifer Revis (Customs & Trade); Mark Simpson (Financial Services); and Ben Farnell (Real Estate). In addition to the hires of Banking & Finance Partners Geoff O'Dea and Matthew Smith last year, the Firm also hired the following Partners in London in 2017: IT Partner Sue McLean from Morrison & Foerster; Will Holder and Carl Richards who joined the M&A/Private Equity and Employment practices respectively from King & Wood Mallesons; David Duncan and Melanie Howard who joined as M&A partners from Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance respectively; and Alex Lewis who joined the Private Equity practice from Ropes & Gray.
