Mayer Brown to boost City leveraged finance team with A&O partner hire

A&O partner set to join Mayer Brown as international firm continues City growth drive

Mayer Brown is set to make the second magic circle partner hire for its London leveraged finance practice since July.

The international firm is set to bring in former Allen & Overy (A&O) partner Jacqui Evans to its City office, although the deal has not yet been completed.

Evans, who spent a decade as a partner with A&O’s finance team, advises lenders and borrowers on all aspects of leveraged finance deals.

Past transactions she has worked on include the 2007 takeover of Liverpool Football Club by US investors George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Evans’ appointment would mark the second hire for Mayer Brown’s leveraged finance team in as many months, coming after the firm recruited Clifford Chance partner Lee Cullinane to boost its ranks.

Cullinane joined Mayer Brown earlier this month, bringing with him more than 20 years’ experience in leveraged finance.

He was one of a trio of senior hires Mayer Brown made for its London finance team, joining alongside Taylor Wessing asset finance partner Graham Wedlake and Linklaters private equity managing associate Nicola Marley, who became a partner at Mayer Brown.

The hires are part of a wider drive by Mayer Brown to boost its finance and corporate offerings in the City.

Mayer Brown said: “We are not going to comment on speculation but, as previously stated, we remain committed to growth in London through strategic investment in core practice areas.”

While Mayer Brown may be bolstering its London finance presence, the firm has also seen a number of partner departures. Competition and antitrust chief Frances Murphy recently quit for Jones Day, while intellectual property (IP) head and general counsel Stephen Gare rejoined former Mayer Brown partner Paul Maher at Greenberg Traurig Maher.

IP partner Mark Prinsley has taken over from Gare, while antitrust partner Gillian Sproul has replaced Murphy.

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