Pillsbury beefs up New York with 14-lawyer Nixon Peabody team

The group includes Mats Carlston, previously head of global finance at Nixon Peabody and a former co-leader of the firm’s global strategies initiative.

Carlston has joined as head of Pillsbury’s leveraged finance team along with four other partners.

Pillsbury firm chair Jim Rishwain said the Nixon hires were “a perfect strategic acquisition” and would significantly boost the firm’s financial services capabilities.

“This is a group of lawyers who’ve been at their firm for virtually their entire career and who share several of our biggest financial institutions clients,” said Rishwain. “It adds significant depth to our New York offering.”

Rishwain added that the senior management experience of Carlston, who was appointed by Nixon Peabody in 2008 to lead the firm’s strategic expansion into global markets would be particularly useful.

“I’m sure we’ll look to tap Mats’ passion and expertise,” said Rishwain.

The new lawyers have joined Pillsbury as members of its firmwide finance practice and its corporate and securities practice. The total number of  lawyers joining is still being finalised.

Allison McClain, Director of Media Relations, Nixon Peabody said: “While it is sometimes unfortunate when partners leave, these departures will have a net positive impact on Nixon Peabody’s 2010 financial results.  In line with our growth strategy, we had already recruited several lateral attorneys, including finance partners, prior to the recent departures.”