White & Case rebuilds energy and infra bench with Kirkland partner

White & Case has added energy and infrastructure partner Serra Tar from Kirkland & Ellis in London.

Tar, who joined Kirkland in 2023 from Simmons & Simmons where she was a partner, advises infrastructure funds, sponsors and institutional investors across the full energy and infrastructure spectrum. She began her career at Clifford Chance.

Talent moves

The hire comes during a year of significant lateral activity at White & Case. The firm lost a large energy and infrastructure team across London, Paris and Abu Dhabi to Paul Hastings earlier this year, as well as a high-profile trio of London infrastructure partners to Milbank in April.

At the same time, it has strengthened in other areas - most notably in private equity with three senior lawyers from Ropes & Gray, including heavyweight partner Helen Croke.

The move also marks another recent exit for Kirkland, which has seen antitrust partner Sally Evans leave for Paul Hastings just this week, tax partner Sam Trowbridge depart for Baker McKenzie, and star restructuring partner Kon Asimacopoulos join Sullivan & Cromwell. Leveraged finance partner Tom Roberts also left for Goodwin in July.

What they said

Jason Kerr, head of White & Case’s global project development and finance practice, said: "Serra has a well-established track record advising a broad range of clients on all aspects of energy and infrastructure investments, bringing industry expertise and a commercial and solutions-driven approach which is reflected in her strong reputation in the market."

Vice chair Oliver Brettle added: "Serra will work across our global project finance, M&A and private equity practices with colleagues to deliver integrated commercially focused advice to clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors."