White & Case picks up two more Ropes & Gray lawyers in PE expansion

White & Case has hired two private equity lawyers from Ropes & Gray in London, marking the latest moves in a wider build-out of its European sponsor practice.

Laura Kayani and Nick Matthew are joining White & Case as partners, following the recent arrival of top City dealmaker Helen Croke, who joined earlier in June. Both Kayani and Matthew leave Ropes & Gray as counsel and will step into the partnership at White & Case.

Kayani joined Ropes in 2017 and advises private equity sponsors and portfolio companies on cross-border deals, carve-outs and restructurings. Matthew, also with the firm since 2017, has recently been on secondment to Bain Capital and focuses on sponsor-side M&A.

Private equity push

The hires are part of a broader private equity push at White & Case, which says PE is a "strategic priority" for the firm. The firm has made a string of recent lateral hires in London, Milan and Paris, including partners from Kirkland, Freshfields, Latham and more from Ropes & Gray.

Vice chair Oliver Brettle said the firm’s private equity group was a key driver behind its 2024 financial performance which saw revenue top $3 billion for the first time.

He added: "As Laura and Nick reunite with Helen Croke, we again show our determination to build globally and ensure White & Case is best placed to support our clients as they pursue their key business goals.”