Accenture hires Cravath partner as new general counsel

Accenture, the world's largest consulting firm, has hired a partner from New York leader Cravath Swaine & Moore as its new general counsel, writes Corporate Counsel.

Accenture recently announced the appointment of Cravath corporate lawyer Julie Spellman Sweet as its new general counsel.

Sweet takes up her new role on 22 March, replacing Douglas Scrivner, who is stepping down after serving as the company's general counsel for 14 years.

She will report to chief executive William Green and will also be a member of the company's executive leadership team.

The 43-year old lawyer joined Cravath in 1992, becoming a partner in 2000. Her practice has consisted primarily of public and private financings, M&A, and general corporate work for private equity funds and their portfolio companies.

The high-profile lawyer was highlighted in 2006 by The American Lawyer as one of its Dealmakers of the Year after completing the first-ever public offering by a private equity fund when she represented the underwriters in a $5bn (£3.1bn) float of KKR Private Equity Investors. In 2007, she represented the underwriters in the $900m (£562m) initial offering of Apollo Global Management.

Sweet could not immediately be reached for comment. But in a press release, Green said he looks forward "to benefiting from Julie's sound judgement, proactive counsel, and experience working with multinational companies on their most important issues".

Corporate Counsel is a US sister title of Legal Week.