Freshfields funds partner joins Simpson Thacher as practice co-head in London

Simpson Thacher has scooped Freshfields funds partner Emma Rachmaninov to join its London office as co-head of its European financial services and funds regulatory team, succeeding retiring partner Stephanie Biggs.

Rachmaninov specialises in non-contentious regulatory matters across financial services, including M&A, restructurings and IPOs. She spent 18 years at Freshfields, where she trained and rose through the ranks.

This week, Simpson Thacher also poached US insurance co-heads Dennis Manfredi and Joseph Cosentino from Clifford Chance, and in February, the firm added Kirkland restructuring star David Nemecek and his team in New York.

What they said

“As one of the most renowned regulatory lawyers in the market, Emma has a longstanding reputation for advising clients on some of the most complex regulatory areas,” said European head of funds Gareth Earl. 

“Her practice and experience will further strengthen our ability to deliver valuable regulatory guidance to clients across the alternative assets landscape internationally,” said co-head of the European financial services and funds regulatory team Owen Lysak.

“Emma’s experience makes her a superb addition to our European financial services and funds regulatory team, further strengthening our capacity to support asset managers with bespoke guidance as they navigate the evolving global regulatory environment,” said European managing partner Wheatly MacNamara.