Legal Era Magazine June-July 2022

INTERNATIONAL | LE
KETANJI BROWN JACKSON CREATES HISTORY AS SHE BECOMES THE FIRST BLACK
WOMAN JUSTICE OF THE US SUPREME COURT

For the past two centuries, the US Supreme Court Ketanji Brown Jackson
had only white male judges.
Jackson’s ascension comes amidst the turbulent
Ketanji Brown Jackson has made history by times of the wavering public trust in the Supreme
becoming the first Black woman judge in the US Court following a series of controversial rulings. The
Supreme Court. most notable is the recent decision to overturn Roe
v. Wade, the landmark ruling that established the
Chief Justice John Roberts administered the constitutional right to abortion in the US in 1973.
Constitutional oath of office to Jackson in a short
ceremony. This happened immediately after the end The Court has also drawn criticism for another
of the Court’s term and the retirement of Justice controversial ruling that rolled back the gun control
Stephen Breyer after nearly 28 years of service. laws by striking down a New York law. The law
placed strict restrictions on carrying concealed
Justice Jackson, a former law clerk, was confirmed firearms in public for self-defence.
by the Senate to the Supreme Court in April in a
53-47 vote. Her ascension to the Court fulfils US
President Joe Biden’s campaign promise to appoint
its first Black woman judge. Her rise to the Court
will not change its ideological balance, as the newly
expanded conservative majority retains its 6-to-3
majority.

The 51-year-old was previously a judge in the DC
Circuit Court of Appeals, following roles as a district
court judge and on the US Sentencing Commission.
She is also the Supreme Court’s first former public
defender.

OGIER ADDS IRISH LAW FIRM AFTER UNION JUNE-JULY 2022 151

After uniting with Leman Solicitors in Dublin,
Offshore law firm, Ogier, of late, has presence in
Ireland. Since June 2022, the combined identity,
Ogier Leman will be known in Ireland.

Together with eight partners, presently Leman has
52 lawyers, which was established long back in 2007
by the partners, John Hogan and Larry Fenelon.
Corporate, real estate, employment, financial
services, dispute resolution and restructuring are
the strengths of the firm.

Next after the amalgamation, Ogier at present has
900 employees and 100 partners across the world.
Ogier extends its operations in Beijing, Hong Kong,
London, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo besides
having offices in offshore jurisdictions BVI, Caymans,
Guerney, Jersey and Luxembourg.

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LE | WORLD@GLANCE
GOODWIN PROCTER ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF A MUNICH OFFICE

It is the firm’s second office in Germany as it from Reed Smith. Others include real estate
continues its private equity-focused growth partner Anke Johann, who was a senior legal
in Europe counsel at Deutsche Pfandbriefbank, and
tax partner Dr. Oded Schein, who worked at
The American multinational law firm Kirkland & Ellis. Counsel Sebastian Walczak
Goodwin Procter has announced the launch and a team of associates will support them.
of an office in Munich.
Schinköth said, “The private equity ecosystem
In 2021 and the first quarter of this year, in Germany is vibrant and a key driver of
it ranked first for global M&A advisory investment activity. Entering Munich will
mandates by deal count. It will further bolster enable us to continue to provide top-tier
the Boston giant’s existing German presence counsel on transactions both domestically
in Frankfurt with its market-leading M&A and cross-border, and advise private equity
capabilities. and strategic investors on complex leveraged
buy-outs, refinancing and growth equity
Jan Schinköth, who joined the firm in May d e a l s .”
last, will chair the office along with a Sidley
Austin associate. He is joined by private Stephan Kock, the chair of Goodwin’s
equity partner Florian Hirschmann hired Frankfurt office, added, “In Germany, Munich
is the most dynamic market for both private
equity and technology, two extremely active
sectors for our clients. Continuing to invest
in and further build our capabilities in the
region has always been a top priority for
us. Having a foothold in both Frankfurt and
Munich, with bench strength in banking, real
estate, private equity, financial services,
M&A and tax, will enhance our position as
one of the predominant pan-European legal
t e a m s .”

Having launched in Germany in 2016, the
firm has grown to over 40 lawyers. It boasts
of over 150 private equity lawyers across
its European offices, including London,
Luxembourg and Paris.

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INTERNATIONAL | LE

United Kingdom

HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS ANNOUNCES THE PROMOTION OF 34 PARTNERS

Justin D’Agostino She added, “The skills of these outstanding lawyers
further enhance our firm’s traditional strengths and
It is the largest cohort in the law firm’s history investment in strategic growth areas such as private
capital, energy and infrastructure, ESG, digital and
Law firm Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has legal transformation. The talents and energy of this
announced the promotion of 34 new partners to its diverse group reflect the depth and breadth of our
global partnership, effective on 1 May. The partners global business. The new partners have the expertise
are based across the firm’s international network in and experience to support our clients’ evolving
the US, the UK, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. needs and strengthen our client base.”

Justin D’Agostino, the CEO at HSF commented, The new partners in Asia are - James Allsop, Tokyo
“I am incredibly proud of our new partners and – International Arbitration/Corporate Crime and
a huge congratulations to them on this fantastic Investigations; Cellia Cognard, Jakarta – Senior
achievement. It is the largest round of partner International Counsel; Harry Evans, Singapore –
promotions in the firm’s history, which reflects our Corporate (TMT/Life Sciences); Jin Kong, New York –
strong commitment to investing in our very talented Senior Registered Foreign Lawyer; and Dan Waldek,
people in every region of our network.” Singapore – International Arbitration/Construction
and Infrastructure Disputes.
“This is a diverse, outstanding group of bright,
talented lawyers and future leaders of our firm. In The new partners in Australia are - Patrick Clark,
a world that is changing very rapidly and with many Melbourne – Competition; Rachel Dawson, Perth
challenges on the horizon, the new partners have – Employment/Industrial Relations; Wendy Fauvel,
demonstrated the skills and leadership qualities Brisbane – Employment/Industrial Relations; Mark
that we need to cement our position as a leading Hatfull, Perth – Corporate (Energy and Resources);
international law firm,” he added. Nerida Jessup, Sydney – Work, Health and Safety;
Jason Jordan, Melbourne – Corporate/M&A; Olga
Rebecca Maslen-Stannage, the Chair and Senior Klimczak, Perth – Employment/Industrial Relations;
Partner at HSF added, “Our talented new partners Alex Mackinnon, Melbourne – Corporate (Equity
presented a brilliant opportunity to invest heavily in Capital Markets); Niresha Mudalige, Melbourne
the future of our firm. It ensures that we continue to – Real Estate; and Aoife Xuereb, Melbourne –
have the depth and experience to deliver the best Commercial Litigation/Class Actions
service to clients, challenge ourselves to step our
innovation up yet another notch, and achieve the The new partners in EMEA are - Cameron Dunstan-
aims of our Ambition 2025 strategy.” Smith, Johannesburg – Corporate Crime and
Investigations; Phil Hanson, Dubai – Projects
www.legaleraonline.com and Project Finance; Jonathan Ripley-Evans,
Johannesburg – International Arbitration; Laurence
Vincent, Paris – Corporate/M&A; and Chris Walters,
Dubai – Corporate/M&A.

The new partners in the UK are – Dhananjaya Chak,
London – Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance;
Kathryn Coveney, London – Real Estate; Joseph
Dennis, London – Private Equity; Heidi Gallagher,
London – Corporate/M&A; Lyn Harris, Belfast –
Alternative Legal Services (Disputes); Josh Lom,
London – Corporate (Tax); Ajay Malhotra, London
– Banking Litigation; Antonia Pegden, London –

JUNE-JULY 2022 153

LE | WORLD@GLANCE Nick Wright, London – Employment.

Disputes (Insurance, Professional Negligence and The new partners in the US are - Jonathan Cross,
Pensions); Rebecca Perlman, London – Corporate New York – Corporate Crime and Investigations; and
(ESG and Impact Investment); Siddhartha Shukla, Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung: Stephanie, Jakarta –
London – Corporate (Cross-border M&A/Tech); Corporate/M&A.
Sebastian Taylor, London – Real Estate; Andrew
Wells, London – Disputes (Intellectual Property), and

STEPHENSON HARWOOD’S SUNITA SINGH DALAL RESIGNS ON MEDICAL GROUNDS

Sunita Singh-Dalal While resigning on medical grounds, Singh-
Dalal said, “I certainly do not intend to
She had joined the firm in 2018 disappear and see this as a short sabbatical of
sorts for a couple of months.”
Sunita Singh-Dalal, who had been leading the
private wealth practice at law firm Stephenson Her team at the firm focused on assisting
Harwood in the Middle East, has taken a clients in the Middle East, Africa and
retreat from work. Southwest Asia on cross-border private
clients, and corporate, commercial and
dispute resolution matters.

She had been proactive with local regulators
to spread awareness in India and the
Gulf Cooperation Council on the latest
developments within the private wealth sector.

Her work also involved the new foundations’
regimes implemented by the Abu Dhabi
Global Market, Ras Al-Khaimah International
Corporate Centre, Dubai International
Financial Centre and UAE Trust Laws.

LINKLATERS KNOCKS DIVERSITY AIMS FOR 2ND YEAR

The Magic Circle UK Firm moves to promote its two-year-old target of at least 40 percent
41 partners across its global network as it of promoted partners being women.
celebrates ‘diversity of talent’
While only 15 percent of the 21 partners in
A promotion round that surpassed the firm’s London and New York identify as members
diversity targets for the second year in a of an ethnic minority, 38 percent have done
row saw 17 women promoted out of 41 new so, easily surpassing the target. This was also
partners. achieved in 2021.

According to the current data, the firm has at “This is a tribute to Linklaters’ global
least 41 percent of women partners, exceeding capabilities and diversity across all the areas

154 JUNE-JULY 2022 www.legaleraonline.com

Aedamar Comiskey INTERNATIONAL | LE

we cover and all jurisdictions we operate Macfarlanes, the market leader in independent
in, underlined by the firm’s strong culture law firms, conceded that it has “a way to go”
and commitment to developing people,” said in achieving its diversity goals.
Aedamar Comiskey, who joined the firm as its
first woman senior partner in July 2021. Only one of Slaughter and May’s eight new
partners was a woman, a situation that was
Compared to the year 2021, when 40 percent also faced by Linklaters’ Magic Circle rival
of the promotions were women, 2022’s total last month.
is six higher than before. Compared to the
2021/22 promotion rounds, the 2021/22 There has been long-term progress towards
rounds represent an improvement on the the recent targets set by both the firms.
original 2020 promotion rounds, when
the firm expressed disappointment in not A complete list of our partners
meeting its gender diversity target of at least
30 percent new partners. Jonathan Ford, Antitrust & Foreign Investment
Group, London; Neil Hoolihan, Antitrust &
Furthermore, Linklaters highlighted the Foreign Investment Group, Brussels; Klaus
geographical spread of its new workforce, von der Linden, Mainstream Corporate,
with 59 percent of the new partners located Düsseldorf; Martina Farkas, Mainstream
outside the UK, spanning 14 offices around Corporate, Hamburg; Daniel Law, Mainstream
the world, including 17 offices in the UK, 15 Corporate (US), London; Jane Cai, Mainstream
offices in continental Europe, 4 offices in Corporate, London; Peter McCabe, Mainstream
Asia, one in the Middle East and four in the Corporate, London;Dominic da Gama Campos,
Americas. Mainstream Corporate, London; Andrew
Lynch, Mainstream Corporate, London;
The firm’s three practice areas, corporate Esteban Arza, Mainstream Corporate, Madrid;
(16) and finance (24) were covered by 11 Nicolas Le Guillou, Mainstream Corporate,
professionals. Dispute resolution brought in Paris; Jamie Coomber, Tax, London; Caroline
one new partner. Borgers, Tax, Brussels; Sonia Cissé, TMT IP,
Paris; James Hennah, Dispute Resolution,
After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, London; Christopher Hunker. Banking, New
top law firms in the UK have been stepping up York; Philip Lee, Banking, New York; Dior Lin,
efforts to enhance their diversity credentials. Banking, Singapore; Marta Domino, Banking,
The ESG movement has become increasingly Warsaw; Przemyslaw Lipin, Banking, Frankfurt;
influential and clients and potential candidates Angus Graham, Banking, London; Juliana Leite
are scrutinizing their records more closely. de Barros, Banking, London; Rohan Saha,
Banking, London; Rowland Light, Banking,
Despite announcing eight new partners London; I-Ping Soong, Capital Markets, Hong
yesterday, only two of whom are women, Kong SAR; Daniel Kwon, Capital Markets,
Seoul; Aditi Srivastava, Capital Markets,
www.legaleraonline.com London; Eliane Dejardin Botelho, Banking/
Capital Markets, Luxembourg; Pablo Medina,
Capital Markets, Madrid; Ying Fu, Energy
& Infrastructure, Hong Kong SAR; Maryam
Adamji, Energy & Infrastructure, London;
Justin Faye, Energy & Infrastructure, Paris;
Raza Naeem, Financial Regulation Group,
London; Ngoc-Hong Ma, Financial Regulation
Group, Paris; Claire Prospert, Investment
Funds, Luxembourg; Matthew Plaskow, Real
Estate, London; Siobhan Burton, Real Estate,
London; Gabriel Cabello, Real Estate, Madrid;
Reem Al Sayegh, Banking, Dubai; Pierre-
Emmanuel Perais, Mainstream Corporate,
New York; Clara Pang, Mainstream Corporate,
New York

JUNE-JULY 2022 155

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