Global law firm White & Case has continued the growth of its private equity, infrastructure and energy M&A practices across EMEA with the additions of Caroline Sherrell and Kenneth Barry as new partners in London.
“White & Case has considerable cross-practice and cross-border strength in the private equity, infrastructure and energy industries, and the arrivals of Caroline and Ken will strengthen our current position as a leading firm in these sectors in EMEA,” says White & Case partner John Reiss, Global Head of the Firm’s Global Mergers & Acquisitions Practice. “Growing our presence in London is a key element in the Firm’s wider strategy and also a key element of the Firm’s global M&A strategy.”
Both Sherrell and Barry join the Firm’s Global Mergers & Acquisitions Practice. Sherrell’s practice is primarily focused on advising private equity firms and specialist infrastructure funds on their investments, as well as advising on domestic and cross-border M&A in the energy and infrastructure sector more generally. She joins White & Case from Clifford Chance, where she was a partner, and brings more than 12 years of experience. Barry focuses his practice on Europe and Africa, advising private equity firms on a broad spectrum of corporate transactions including buyouts, acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, co-investments, equity capital markets transactions and management incentive schemes. He brings more than ten years of experience and joins White & Case from Debevoise & Plimpton, where he was the lead private equity senior associate in London.
“Investment in infrastructure and energy is growing significantly worldwide and Caroline brings a unique combination of M&A skills, knowledge and experience across these sectors and in private equity,” says partner Jan Matejcek, Regional Section Head, EMEA M&A/Corporate. “Caroline’s arrival follows the addition in April this year of Germany’s leading energy law team, partners Peter Rosin and Thomas Burmeister, in our Düsseldorf office and continues the growth of our infrastructure and energy offering across EMEA.”
White & Case partner Ian Bagshaw, co-head of the Firm’s EMEA private equity group, says: “The addition of Ken is another strategic step that continues the exciting growth story in our EMEA private equity practice. Our ambition is to continue building a market leading private equity practice across the EMEA region, and the arrivals of both Ken and Caroline support that goal. Ken will play an important role in positioning the Firm at the forefront of legal advisors to private equity houses with investment interests in Europe and on the African continent, where private equity is expected to be the fastest growing area of M&A in the years ahead.”
White & Case recently confirmed the promotion of eight lawyers to partner in London, part of 31 partner promotions worldwide that will take effect from 1 January, 2016. Since 2010, the Firm has promoted 43 lawyers to partner in London.
White & Case continues to advise on a variety of eye-catching private equity and infrastructure transactions across EMEA and, in third quarter reporting by Mergermarket, was ranked the second most active law firm in European private equity. Recent transactions on which the Firm has advised include the acquisition of German autobahn services company Tank & Rast GmbH by an international syndicate including Allianz Capital Partners, Borealis Infrastructure Management Inc., Infinity Investments SA and MEAG; the acquisition by leading Central European energy group Energetický a průmyslový holding of Eggborough Power Limited; and the acquisition of a controlling stake in international pharmaceuticals company Alvogen by an investment consortium led by CVC Capital Partners.
Since the beginning of 2014, White & Case has expanded its global private equity practice with the addition of ten new partners in two continents. In London, Ian Bagshaw, Richard Youle and Matthew Griffin joined the M&A/Corporate group; Colin Harley and Martin Forbes, who have a dedicated focus on private equity sponsors, joined the banking group; and equity capital markets lawyer Inigo Esteve, who supports the private equity team’s advice on IPOs, joined the capital markets group. In Germany, Gernot Wagner joined the capital markets group in Frankfurt, advising private equity firms on high yield offerings and public and private debt and equity. In Sweden, private equity lawyer Johan Steen joined the Firm in Stockholm, focusing on Nordic and international financial sponsors. In Hong Kong, M&A/private equity lawyers KS Kim and Peggy Wang joined the Firm, focusing on clients in Asia.
