Our firm expands into the U.K. as a response to the increased U.K. interest in the Luxembourg market.

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We are very pleased and proud to announce the opening of our representative office in London to facilitate cross-border deals and communication. Our office is centrally located in Mayfair, and fully operational.

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Head of the London office, Partner Mark Shaw is an English solicitor and member of the Luxembourg Bar, specialising in financial services and funds; he joins Wildgen having previously worked in-house at a number of investment management companies. He comments: “By having a presence in London, it makes the firm far more accessible for our UK clients, and helps us to maintain strong relationships with local law firms. Clients will be able to receive relevant and timely advice on Luxembourg law, and discuss matters with a lawyer who combines an understanding of the nuances of the U.K. financial and legal markets with the Luxembourg legal and regulatory framework.”

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“It is very exciting to lead Wildgen’s expansion in London, as it presents a unique opportunity for our firm. We advise exclusively on Luxembourg legal, tax and regulatory aspects but being here brings us much closer to local markets and opportunities in the U.K.. We are able to demonstrate the added value Luxembourg offers to corporates impacted by Brexit,” says Partner Samia Rabia, Luxembourg head of the representative office.

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Apart from new business development, a presence in London will help us to maintain existing relationships with referrals and clients in the U.K., improve communications and open potential for expanding the services we have to offer. Regular meetings and events will be hosted in order to provide current and new clients with valuable insights into Luxembourg’s legal and regulatory developments.

Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has boosted its Latin America presence by hiring Brazil’s leading aviation partner, Julio Costa, and entering into a cooperation arrangement with a newly established local firm, CAL.

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Julio will join HFW as a partner in June from Tauil & Chequer Advogados in cooperation with Mayer Brown (TCMB).

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CAL has been founded by the insurance team from TCMB – Julio, aviation and insurance partner Gustavo Lasalvia and six additional fee-earners – and will operate from offices in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The firm is due to formally launch in June, subject to local regulatory approval. HFW São Paulo partner Fernando Albino will also join CAL with other local colleagues.

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It is the seventh international merger or cooperation arrangement that HFW has completed since January 2016, including a fully-integrated transatlantic merger.

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Julio is widely regarded as Brazil’s leading aviation lawyer. He has extensive experience advising clients throughout Latin America on multi-jurisdictional litigation, claims handling and regulatory matters. He also acts for clients across the insurance and reinsurance sectors in Brazil, and will work closely with HFW insurance and reinsurance partner Geoffrey Conlin.

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Julio is ranked in the top band for aviation liability and litigation in legal directory Chambers & Partners, with clients describing him in testimonials given to the guide as the “biggest specialist in aviation-related insurance matters” and “without a doubt the best lawyer for accident claims in Brazil”.

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Aerospace is one of HFW’s six core sectors globally. The firm’s market-leading practice has been at the forefront of legal developments in the sector for over three decades. Its specialist lawyers have unrivalled experience of resolving the most complex claims and advising on aviation safety, economic regulation, finance and leasing, competition and antitrust. HFW also offers a bespoke aviation mediation service.

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HFW partner Jeremy Shebson, who established the firm’s São Paulo office:

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“Julio is undoubtedly the top aviation lawyer in Brazil, so we are extremely pleased that he has chosen to join our firm. Julio’s arrival and our cooperation arrangement with CAL significantly strengthens our aerospace and insurance offering throughout Latin America, and is another illustration of our commitment to the industry and the region.”

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Julio Costa:

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“I am thrilled to be joining a firm with such strong and longstanding ties to the aviation and insurance sectors. Being part of such a large and specialist global team will be hugely beneficial to my clients. We are also very excited about the opportunities for CAL, and have ambitious plans to grow and develop our practices to align with HFW’s business.”

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Richard Crump, Global Senior Partner, HFW:

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“As part of our strategy to be the world’s leading law firm to the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance and shipping industries, we have been investing heavily in the international markets that are most important to those six sectors. Brazil is the world’s eighth-largest economy and a key centre for many of our clients. Our cooperation arrangement with CAL is another important step in our continued international expansion, and means we are able to provide clients with specialist advice in Brazil and across Latin America.”

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (‘Freshfields’) has made a significant addition to its Asia antitrust, competition and trade practice with the election of Hazel Yin to the firm’s partnership. She will become co-head of the firm’s competition practice in mainland China, working in Beijing.

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Previously a partner in King & Wood Mallesons’ Beijing office, Yin has built up a highly successful practice advising multinational and Chinese clients on inbound and outbound merger control, regulatory investigations and antitrust risk and compliance.

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Thomas Janssens, global head of Freshfields’ competition practice, commented:

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“Hazel is one of the rising stars of Chinese competition law and we are delighted that she is joining our team. Delivering the highest quality competition law expertise in the most important jurisdictions is the hallmark of our leading global practice.”

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Alastair Mordaunt, co-head of the firm’s competition practice in Asia, added:

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“Hazel’s arrival is an exciting and timely addition to the leading competition team we have assembled across Asia. I am confident she will be a perfect fit with Ninette Dodoo, the other co-head of our practice in China, and I believe that the combination of these two respected practitioners will prove to be a highly compelling proposition going forward.”

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Commenting on Yin’s appointment, Freshfields’ China Chairman, Teresa Ko, said:

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“The Asia region in general and China in particular remain key focuses for the firm and our competition practice. Hazel’s appointment reinforces that commitment and I am confident that she will add significant value to our clients.”

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Hazel Yin commented:

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“I am delighted and excited to be joining Freshfields’ market-leading competition practice in China, where I can add to the firm’s mix of international experience and local expertise, which I believe will become ever more important for clients in navigating complex and challenging competition law issues in the region.”

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As well as working with Ninette Dodoo, Yin will work closely with Alastair Mordaunt and Kaori Yamada, the co-heads of the firm’s Asia competition practice, who are based in Hong Kong and Tokyo respectively. She will also work with China Chairman Teresa Ko and the firm’s other China partners.

DAC Beachcroft LLP is pleased to have appointed Pedro Claros as a Partner in its Dispute Resolution group.

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With a wealth of expertise in European and Latin American markets, Pedro will co-head the firm’s burgeoning international arbitration practice, working alongside the Global Dispute Resolution team. Formerly of Spanish firm Cuatrecasas, he specialises in international arbitration and has extensive experience as lead counsel in both investment and commercial arbitrations.

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Described by leading legal guide Chambers & Partners Latin America 2017 as “an exceptionally good lawyer”, Pedro has represented a range of investors in the renewable energy sector across different European jurisdictions, particularly in investment arbitrations under the Energy Charter Treaty. He has also acted extensively for banks, construction & engineering companies, utilities and other businesses in Latin American investment and commercial arbitration cases. In addition, he has represented a South American state before Spanish courts in procedures for enforcement of ICSID awards, as well as in bondholders’ claims.

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Pedro has sat as an arbitrator in cases before the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Court of Arbitration of Madrid (Official Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Madrid) and the Arbitration Centre of the Lima Chamber of Commerce in Perú.

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Announcing the appointment, DAC Beachcroft Managing Partner, David Pollitt, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Pedro to the fold at an exciting time for our international practice. Recruiting a lawyer of his calibre and experience is an important signal of intent for us as we continue to build a market-leading global offering.”

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He added: “I have no doubt that Pedro’s arrival will enable us to expand the boundaries of our international practice, especially in Latin America, to better serve the needs of our clients as we seek to become a truly global business. We know our clients value our international capabilities highly and this appointment further expands the service we are able to provide them.”

DLA Piper today announces that Martin Nelson-Jones will be joining the firm as a partner in its Corporate practice, based in London.

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Martin will be joining the firm from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he was a partner since 2001 and served as co-head of their global infrastructure and transport sector group. He specialises in M&A and has worked across a range of sectors, including energy and infrastructure. Martin advises both corporates and financial investors.

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Bob Bishop, partner and Global Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Corporate Group, said: “Martin is a highly regarded practitioner with a wealth of experience in M&A and in the infrastructure, transport and energy sectors. He has advised on a number of industry shaping transactions and his appointment will boost our London Corporate practice and reflects our commitment to further develop our global infrastructure capabilities.”