BLP adds regulatory might with A&O hire
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has signalled its commitment to its financial services regulatory team with the hire of Allen & Overy (A&O) partner Sidney Myers.
Myers is currently head of A&O’s regulatory investigations group; he will join BLP in the newly created role of head of financial services and run a team of six partners that was created three years ago. Myers will make the switch in January.
BLP head of corporate John ;Bennett ;said: “Regulation is perceived by senior people [at our clients] as business-critical. With high-profile investigations such as Northern Rock and Société Générale, and with the credit crunch, we’re seeing a change in the regulatory landscape.
“We’ve got a great team, but wanted to bring in a top-tier practitioner. [Myers has] the combination of credibility and drive and was keen to accept the challenge. The team here had all worked with him or knew him from industry networks.”
Myers has been at A&O since 1982 and has been a partner for the past 17 years. It is understood that BLP ;wooed ;him ;with a remuneration package typical of those agreed with other high-profile lateral hires such as Chris De Pury.
With Myers’ move from A&O, ;partner ;Calum Burnett has been handed the role of running the magic circle firm’s regulatory investigations practice.
