Key facts
- Cravath, Swaine & Moore has hired two leveraged finance partners, Chris Medley and Rohan Saha, from Linklaters.
- The firm previously recruited finance partners Philip Stopford and Korey Fevzi from Shearman & Sterling in March 2023.
- These strategic hires are intended to expand Cravath's English law services and strengthen its London presence.
- The firm's expansion reflects the competitive landscape for legal talent in the London market.
- Cravath reported average profits per equity partner exceeding $6 million in 2023.
Cravath, Swaine & Moore, a New York-headquartered law firm, is significantly expanding its London operations with a series of strategic hires aimed at bolstering its English law capabilities. The firm recently recruited two leveraged finance partners, Chris Medley and Rohan Saha, from Linklaters. This follows an earlier move in March 2023 where Cravath hired finance partners Philip Stopford and Korey Fevzi from Shearman & Sterling.
These acquisitions signal Cravath's commitment to growing its presence in the competitive London legal market and its ambition to offer comprehensive English law advice, a move that broadens its practice in the wake of Brexit. The firm has maintained a London presence since 1973, primarily providing US law counsel, but these recent hires indicate a strategic shift towards a more integrated offering.
The departures from Linklaters and Shearman & Sterling are part of a broader trend of talent migration in the London legal sector, with US firms actively recruiting from established UK firms. Cravath's ability to attract top-tier talent is supported by its strong financial performance, reporting average profits per equity partner exceeding $6 million in 2023, significantly outperforming Linklaters' figures.
Philip Boeckman, Cravath's London managing partner, has emphasized the firm's longstanding commitment to clients in the UK and Europe, noting the increasing benefit clients derive from their support beyond New York. The firm's aggressive expansion in London positions it to compete more directly with the traditional dominance of UK Magic Circle firms in the City.