US partner Scott Simpson has been based in London for several years and is no stranger to big-ticket M&A, with roles on the defence of Gucci from LVMH and the fashion house’s acquisition of Yves Saint Laurent. Now a regular fixture on the UK M&A circuit, Simpson helped Skadden maintain pole position in the league tables in 2005.

He was brought in as special US counsel to Gold Fields in its defence against Harmony and was also involved in a brace of major deals for Westfield Group, a client he originally acted for on its $5bn (£2.73bn) hostile takeover of Rodamco North America in 2002. Last year’s deals for Westfield included the £2.2bn joint bid with Multiplex and the Reuben Brothers for Duelguide, owner of Chelsfield.

UK deals apart, Simpson has also helped carve out Skadden’s Russian portfolio, with roles advising on the acquisition by OJSC Gazzprom of OJSC Rosneft, and the $733m (£400.8m) sale of Sun Trade’s entire stake in Sun Interbrew.