In a significant development for London's legal sector, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison has secured a major recruitment coup by hiring Francesca Harris, a highly regarded mergers and acquisitions partner, from rival firm Kirkland & Ellis.
Strategic Move for London Expansion
The appointment marks a substantial strengthening of Paul Weiss's corporate practice in the City of London. Francesca Harris brings nearly two decades of sophisticated M&A experience to her new role, having established herself as one of the most capable practitioners in the field.
Harris's expertise spans both public and private mergers and acquisitions, with particular strength in cross-border transactions and private equity deals. Her client roster includes prominent financial sponsors and corporations engaged in complex, high-value transactions across multiple jurisdictions.
Proven Track Record in Major Deals
During her tenure at Kirkland & Ellis, Harris played pivotal roles in numerous landmark transactions that shaped the European M&A landscape. Her deal sheet includes representing clients in multi-billion dollar acquisitions, strategic joint ventures, and corporate reorganisations that frequently made headlines in financial publications.
Her departure represents a notable loss for Kirkland & Ellis, where she had built a formidable practice and developed strong relationships with major private equity firms and corporate clients operating in the London market.
The recruitment underscores Paul Weiss's aggressive expansion strategy in London's competitive legal market, where the firm has been systematically building its corporate capabilities to compete for premium M&A work against established Magic Circle firms and other US competitors.
Strengthening Corporate Capabilities
Paul Weiss's London office has been actively recruiting top legal talent across various practice areas, with Harris's appointment representing one of their most significant corporate hires to date. The firm's leadership has emphasised their commitment to building a premier corporate practice that can handle the most complex cross-border transactions originating from or involving UK companies.
Harris's arrival is expected to enhance Paul Weiss's ability to compete for mandates involving UK public company takeovers, private equity buyouts, and strategic M&A advice for FTSE-listed corporations. Her extensive experience advising on transactions under the UK Takeover Code positions the firm more strongly in the public M&A arena.
The move also reflects the ongoing trend of US law firms targeting top UK legal talent to bolster their London offerings, particularly in high-margin practice areas like M&A and private equity where US firms have been gaining market share from traditional UK practices.
Industry observers note that Harris's transition follows several other high-profile moves between major US law firms in London, highlighting the intense competition for partners with established practices and strong client relationships in the corporate sector.
