Freshfields doubles down on New York M&A with latest ex-Cravath hire

Freshfields has continued its investment in New York by hiring veteran M&A partner Keith Hallam from White & Case, reuniting him with former Cravath colleagues.

Before joining White & Case in 2024, he spent almost two decades at Cravath.

Hallam advises public and private companies, private equity sponsors and financial investors on mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, carve-outs, joint ventures and corporate governance matters.

Reinforcing NYC

The appointment further strengthens Freshfields' New York M&A practice, where Hallam will work alongside fellow former Cravath partners Damien Zoubek and Jenny Hochenberg.

Zoubek was appointed US managing partner in June, succeeding Silicon Valley-based capital markets partner Sarah Solum. Hochenberg is Freshfields’ global co-head of M&A.

Alongside star dealmaker Ethan Klingsberg, Freshfields’ co-head of US corporate and M&A, Zoubek and Hochenberg have played a central role in building the New York M&A practice and expanding its presence on high-profile US corporate transactions.

Among the team's headline US mandates are Alphabet’s $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity company Wiz, ServiceNow’s $7.8 billion acquisition of an Israeli cybersecurity company and Merck’s $10 billion acquisition of Verona Pharma.  

What they said

Commenting on Hallam’s appointment, Zoubek said: “I had the pleasure of working with Keith previously for many years, and I know firsthand that he is a world-class lawyer and a phenomenal colleague”.

He added that Hallam has an “impressive deal sheet” and that his arrival “will further accelerate the incredible momentum we have seen in our M&A business”.