Two senior private equity partners have departed the London office of Ropes & Gray for Akin, strengthening the latter firm's transactional practice in a major European market. Dan Oates and Angela Becker are leaving after three years with Ropes, which they joined in 2022 from Fried Frank.
The moves continue a challenging period for Ropes in London, where veteran partner Helen Croke departed for White & Case in June along with two other lawyers. Another partner, Simon Saitowitz, who had also arrived from Fried Frank with Oates and Becker, left for Weil in April. Ropes has simultaneously expanded its European private equity presence by opening new offices in Paris in March and Milan in September.
Oates, who served as global co-head of the private equity industry group, and Becker advised clients, including CVC Capital Partners, on multiple transactions. Their departure occurs during the same week that Sebastian Rice, who leads Akin's 160-attorney London office, announced plans to join telecommunications company Veon as general counsel.
The moves continue a challenging period for Ropes in London, where veteran partner Helen Croke departed for White & Case in June along with two other lawyers. Another partner, Simon Saitowitz, who had also arrived from Fried Frank with Oates and Becker, left for Weil in April. Ropes has simultaneously expanded its European private equity presence by opening new offices in Paris in March and Milan in September.
Oates, who served as global co-head of the private equity industry group, and Becker advised clients, including CVC Capital Partners, on multiple transactions. Their departure occurs during the same week that Sebastian Rice, who leads Akin's 160-attorney London office, announced plans to join telecommunications company Veon as general counsel.
