Cleary has hired funds partner David Christmas from Fried Frank in London, adding to its growing private capital bench.
The firm' leadership says growing private capital strength remains a strategic priority.
Cleary has hired funds partner David Christmas from Fried Frank in London, as it continues to build out its private capital offering.
Christmas joins after a decade at Fried Frank, where he made partner in 2018. His experience also includes stints at Kirkland & Ellis and legacy firm Berwin Leighton Paisner.
A funds specialist, he focuses on fund formation across a range of alternative asset classes, as well as GP-led secondaries.
Funds in focus
The hire adds to Cleary’s growing London partnership, which currently stands at 39 partners, and reflects the firm’s continued focus on expanding its global funds capability.
London partner and executive committee member Tihir Sarkar said growing the firm’s funds and private capital offering remains a “principal strategic priority”, with clients increasingly diversifying across private equity, credit, real assets and secondaries.
London has been a particular area of growth for the New York firm, with Sarkar noting that partner numbers have doubled since 2021.
The move follows the launch of a European real estate practice last October, led by the hire of corporate real estate partner Stephen Nicolas from Paul Hastings.
The hire comes as competition for talent in London remains intense, with firms continuing to invest heavily in private capital capability.
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