International law firm Simmons & Simmons announced the further strengthening of its market-leading Asset Management and Investment Funds sector practice with the hire of Lisa Dinwiddy to its London Private Funds team. Lisa joined Simmons as partner on 9 December.

The UK Private Funds team, led by David Williams, currently consists of three London-based partners: David, Dale Gabbert and Matt Pitman. The team is supplemented by Cindy Valentine in South Africa and by a range of other private funds specialists across the globe. Lisa’s arrival bolsters both the London and wider global firm team, adding capability and bandwidth across the private funds spectrum, with particular emphasis on real estate and emerging markets funds, in which Lisa is immensely experienced.

Lisa joins the firm from Addleshaw Goddard, where she spent 18 months as a Legal Director in the firm’s Investment Management group. Prior to this, she spent three years in-house at Actis LLP, advising the firm on a range of matters, including its ambitious acquisition of multiple funds from Abraaj. Across her 16-year career, Lisa has built up a wealth of experience in a wide range of asset classes, now focussing on real estate and emerging markets funds.

Welcoming Lisa’s arrival, David Williams said:
“I am absolutely delighted that Lisa Dinwiddy will be joining the Private Funds team. We are growing rapidly and bringing a first-rate partner like Lisa on board is absolutely integral to our plans. Given her specialist expertise and experience, I know that Lisa is going to be an enormous asset to the team.”

Commenting on her move to Simmons & Simmons, Lisa said:
“I very much look forward to joining the Private Funds team at Simmons & Simmons which has a really stellar reputation in the market. This is a really exciting opportunity to grow my business and serve my clients, whilst helping the team grow rapidly both in the UK and internationally.”