'Doubling down on private capital': Mayer Brown adds three partners from Dechert

Mayer Brown has hired three senior partners from Dechert in London, adding firepower to its private capital practice across both leveraged finance and M&A.

The hires include leveraged finance duo Philip Butler and David Miles, who previously co-led Dechert’s global leveraged finance practice, and private equity partner Mark Evans.

The move is a significant boost for Mayer Brown as it builds out its London bench - a key part of the firm’s broader private capital growth strategy. All three partners have long track records advising on major UK and European deals, with Butler and Miles well known in the sponsor and lender markets, and Evans bringing transactional experience across buyouts, joins ventures and equity and debt finance mandates.

Evans notably came close to joining White & Case in 2021 as part of a three-partner team from Dechert, before opting to stay. His former colleagues Ross Allardice and Tony Brown made the move - with Allardice leaving White & Case earlier this month for Latham.

Mayer Brown has been steadily growing its London ranks, with recent hires including structured finance duo Chris McGarry and Adam Farrell, and corporate trustee partner Kevin Ng - all from White & Case.

What they said

"Phil and David are recognised leaders in their fields", said global banking co-head Alex Dell. "Their experience and profile in the market aligns perfectly with the firm’s strategic plan to be at the forefront of Europe’s direct lending and private capital market."

On Evans, London private equity head James West added: "Mark is a versatile practitioner with significant experience on both buy- and sell-side mandates, making him a great asset as we expand in the European PE and M&A markets."

London managing partner Dominic Griffiths said the firm was "doubling down" on its financial services and private capital business: "Private capital is a significant growth area for Mayer Brown and the economy."