CC takes former Merrill Lynch vice chairman

Clifford Chance (CC) has appointed former Merrill Lynch vice chairman Stephen Hammerman as a senior special counsel in the firm’s New York office.

Hammerman was most recently deputy commissioner for legal matters at the New York City Police Department. Prior to that he spent 23 years at Merrill Lynch where he held positions including general counsel, chief financial officer, chief administrative officer and vice chairman of the board. He is also a former director of the New York Stock Exchange.

The hire reaffirms CC’s longstanding relationship with Merrill Lynch. CC has a history of hiring former members of the investment bank’s executive committee within the US, having also appointed former Merrill Lynch associate general counsel George Schieren in 2003.

CC’s New York managing partner Craig Medwick said: “Steve’s broad experience as a securities lawyer, litigator and regulator is among the most elite in the marketplace.”