Bakers bulks projects team and brings in new FD – both from A&O

Bakers boosts London arm with A&O partner hire; appointment follows finance chief hire

Baker & McKenzie is set to expand its London banking practice with the hire of Allen & Overy (A&O) partner Calvin Walker.

Walker, who specialises in project and structured finance, will join Bakers in September after 11 years as a partner with the magic circle law firm.

His practice has a particular focus on emerging markets, especially in the Gulf and CIS region, and he previously served as head of A&O’s Moscow office between 1999 and 2001.

At Bakers he will lead the London project finance team, which sits within the firm’s wider banking practice. The team includes 10 partners and 20 lawyers in the City.

Bernard Sharp, head of Bakers’ banking group, said: “We have a very strong finance practice with an international focus, and we thought that Calvin’s expertise made him right to lead the project finance side of the team and continue to expand it.”

News of Walker’s hire comes in the same week that the firm announced the recruitment of a new  chief financial officer. Mark Carter is due to join in September, replacing Arthur Ferry in the role. He also joins Bakers from A&O.
Walker’s move to Bakers makes him the first London partner to emerge at another law firm since A&O announced a far-reaching restructuring in late February.

The firm announced in February that it was to cut partner, fee earners and support staff numbers by around 9%.

Exact details of the partner restructuring are unclear, however, finance has been heavily hit. Those departing the firm are thought to include six corporate partners, five leveraged finance partners and two partners from the firm’s US law group in London.

Baker & McKenzie on the Legal Week Wiki