Former Clifford Chance partner rejoins after year as Future Group legal chief

Dakin is to become part of the firm’s European high-yield team, based in London, with associate Jeremy Traster from Dakin’s old firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel also joining. Traster will relocate from New York to London.

Clifford Chance’s US securities group head John Connolly said in a statement: “Building our European high-yield practice is a key strategic goal for the firm and we’re delighted to welcome two new members to our team. We see this becoming a viable long-term market in Europe, and will continue to invest in talent in this area.”

Dakin first joined Clifford Chance from Cahill Gordon, where he was a senior associate, in 2005 (25 August 2005). He relocated from New York to London, joining the magic circle firm as a partner and later relocating to Dubai.

Among the deals he advised on while at the firm was DP World’s Dubai flotation. Dakin and Dubai partner Iain Hunter advised the company while Linklaters advised the banks (22 October 2007).

He moved across to the Future Group as chief legal officer in August 2009. For the two years prior to that he had spent two years working as an external legal adviser to the group and its subsidiary Future Pipe Industries.