S&C hits Kirkland for two partners as London build-out picks up pace

Sullivan & Cromwell has continued its London build-out, hiring two partners from Kirkland & Ellis as it deepens its push into private capital.

Private equity partner Aprajita Dhundia and corporate tax partner Ian Ferreira will join the Wall Street firm’s London office, marking the latest step in what is becoming one of the most closely watched growth strategies in the City.

S&C said the hires reflect its continued investment in London as a strategic hub and its ambition to expand private capital capabilities for global clients.

Private capital focus sharpens

Dhundia is an experienced private equity lawyer, having been a partner at Kirkland since 2015, with a deals list that includes sponsor mandates for the likes of Blackstone and Montagu. She will join S&C’s private equity and M&A practices.

Ferreira, who also joined Kirkland in 2015 after moving from Weil, will bolster S&C’s tax bench. He is regarded as a leading transactional tax adviser in Europe, with a practice spanning private equity, M&A, funds and restructurings.

The hires follow an eye-catching uptick in high-profile London moves for S&C this year. In September, the firm made headlines with the arrival of restructuring heavyweight Kon Asimacopoulos and private equity veteran Mike Francies, formerly Weil’s long-time London managing partner. Earlier in the summer, the firm added regulatory star Barney Reynolds from A&O Shearman.

Now London co-managing partner, Asimacopoulos pointed to Dhundia and Ferreira's pedigree, adding: "As we continue to execute on our growth plan in London, we remain focused on attracting only the very best lawyers who will add value to our clients as key parts of our integrated global team."

A new approach to London growth

The push marks a notable shift for S&C, which has long been one of the most selective firms in the market when it comes to lateral hiring. While the firm is a go-to adviser on big-ticket M&A in the US, it has historically been less prominent in private equity compared with rivals such as Kirkland, Simpson Thacher and Paul Weiss.

That context is why the market is watching S&C’s London strategy so closely. Rather than a broad-based expansion, the firm is building carefully around private capital, combining private equity, tax, restructuring and regulatory expertise in a way designed to appeal to global sponsors.

S&C’s London office opened in 1972 and has around 90 lawyers and 19 partners, making it the firm’s second-largest office globally.