Linklaters raids Freshfields for restructuring star Howard
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer finance partner Chris Howard has rejoined Linklaters in a major coup for the Silk Street firm.
Chris Howard
Howard left Linklaters as a senior associate to become a partner at Freshfields in 2004. In doing so, he became the first associate hire ever to move into the equity at the firm.
The departure is the latest in a string of high profile exits from Freshfields finance practice in the last few years. David Ereira and Brian Gray also left for Linklaters in separate moves in 2007.
More recently, in 2009, former White & Case partners Maurice Allen and Mike Goetz left the partnership a little over a year after joining the firm. The pair have since set up Ropes & Gray’s City base.
Howard himself enjoys close relationships with both Ereira and Gray. With current banking chief Robert Elliott widely tipped to take a run at the senior partner position at Linklaters next year, it is expected that Howard will fulfil the firm’s need for another restructuring specialist.
He enjoys close relationships with several investment and commercial banks, including JP Morgan Cazenove, Lloyds Banking Group, RBS and HSBC. Earlier this year Howard was a nominee for The Lawyer’s annual Hot 100 for his work on restructuring mandates for both senior and mezzanine lenders, with deals including the Four Seasons Healthcase restructuring, Ferretti and a role on Almatis among others.
Freshfields banking head Alan Newton told The Lawyer: “Chris has been a valuable contrubutor to our banking and restructuring practice and we wish him well.”
Newton added, in a statement:”’We have never had such a deep and talented team of partners and associates in our banking and restructuring practices as is the case at present. We have invested in these practices in recent years and will continue to do so.”
Linklaters banking head Robert Elliott told The Lawyer: “He’s obviously a good hire for us. We’ve had an awful lot of respect for him for a long time. The market opportunity is still pretty considerable within the whole banking-restructuring space.
“If you look at the debt cycle between now and 2015 the restructuring needs are massive. We feel he will strengthen an already strong team.”
Readers' comments (9)
Clive Hyperbole | 22-Nov-2010 3:20 pm
Massive, massive move for Links. Big blow for FF
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 22-Nov-2010 3:33 pm
It's a short-term blow in terms of the RBS relationship, but Freshfields never wanted to build a big volume banking practice like Cliffords. A&O or Links. Howard is a great operator but the Freshfields machine will keep on going.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 22-Nov-2010 3:45 pm
Body-blow to Freshfields from Links! Freshy is left reeling!!! Links has Freshy on the ropes here!!! Can Freshy come back fighting or is it all over for Fleet Street's finest?!?!?!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 22-Nov-2010 7:55 pm
Now there's gratitude for you!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 23-Nov-2010 0:15 am
isn't it funny that only a few years after having to leave one magic circle firm for partnership the same firm that refused to make him up is bringing him back on increased cash - makes you wonder about the amazing press that Links will no doubt put out, why wasn't he great enough the first time?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 23-Nov-2010 4:04 am
FBD has made a strong point during the credit crunch that the restructuring teams were "mission critical". To lose a person like Chris Howard is a serious gut shot. It reflects the discord in the finance ranks as they have been bleeding people and hurts more since it is now happening at partner level.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
In the Know | 23-Nov-2010 4:29 pm
As ever, it´s the truth behind the headlines which is the most interesting...I understand there was a major falling out here and more toys were thrown than a kindergarten.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Lord Lawes | 24-Nov-2010 2:58 pm
Pipe down children.
'In the know' is quite correct, there was a mighty fall out, and Signor Howard felt unloved and unsupported in his attempts to expand his practice, with on particularly unpleasant clash, which I shall not go into details about.
Sufficed to say that FBD felt quite willing to let him go, and he quite happy to leave, so no crying over spilt milk from either party to be perfectly honest.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Librarian | 25-Nov-2010 2:19 pm
I don't mind him leaving. Nor am I hurt that he didn't say goodbye. But why did he have to pour strawberry ice cream over all the copies of Restructuring Law and Practice by Chris Howard that we have in the library before he left. Why, Chris?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment