Sullivan & Cromwell has appointed new
London management, with partners Vanessa Blackmore and Robert Schlein stepping up to lead the elite
Manhattan firm’s City base.
Blackmore and Schlein have been named as co-managing partners of Sullivan’s London office, taking over from veteran City chief William Plapinger, who has headed the office for the past 13 years.
Plapinger, who is US-qualified, will remain in London and is to continue in his role co-ordinating the firm’s network of European offices, which includes further outposts in Paris and Frankfurt.
Blackmore joined Sullivan from Allen & Overy in July 2006 to launch the New York leader’s UK corporate practice. She has a broad corporate finance practice, advising on securities law, M&A and restructurings.
Schlein joined the firm in 1993, becoming a partner in 2001. He is US-qualified but has been based in the UK since 1999. He sits in the firm’s corporate group, with a particular interest in the private equity sector.
Sullivan chairman Rodgin Cohen said the appointments reflected the importance of the firm’s UK law practice, commenting: “The addition of [Blackmore and Schlein] to our London leadership team is the latest in a series of initiatives we have taken to strengthen our European practice.”
He added: “In addition to being one of the leading transactional lawyers in Europe, [Plapinger] has been a superb administrator and strategist. He has been instrumental in building our London office to its present prominent position.”
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