Global law firm Ropes & Gray has bolstered its international funds offering with the appointment of Emily Brown as a partner in its Asset Management Group, based in London.
Brown is a leading European funds lawyer, with broad experience advising both major institutional investors and sponsors on a wide range of matters, including fund investments, co-investments and fund formations. She will join Ropes & Gray in April 2021.
Her experience also includes advising private equity and venture capital sponsors on fundraisings, managed accounts and the capital-raising process, alongside executive and employee co-investment arrangements, and the wider elements of operating a private funds business.
She is recognised by Chambers, The Legal 500 and Private Equity International, in which she is variously described as “exceptional,” “practical, commercial and always on top of her brief” and “the definition of a trusted counsel.”
Brown will be the fifth partner to join Ropes & Gray in London in past eight months. She follows the appointments of funds partner Tom Alabaster, restructuring partner Matt Czyzyk and special situations partner Samuel Norris in 2020, and Dr Lincoln Tsang, who joined the firm’s Life Sciences Regulatory & Compliance practice this week (1 March 2021).
Brown joins one of the world’s leading asset management practices. With more than 300 lawyers dedicated to the asset management industry, including 30 in London, the firm is uniquely positioned to offer cutting-edge advice in an ever-changing investment and regulatory environment, guiding private investment funds, registered funds and hedge funds.
Based in London, Brown will bolster the team’s transatlantic offering, working closely with EMEA head of funds Tom Alabaster, who joined the firm’s London office in May 2020. The firm’s EMEA team, which stands out for its full service capability, including tax and regulatory, has deep experience representing both sponsor and investor clients across a diverse range of private fund formation work.
David Djaha, managing partner of Ropes & Gray, says: “Emily is an exciting addition to our European funds offering. Her experience will further strengthen the team in London and will be highly valued by clients, both in the UK and elsewhere, in an industry where Ropes & Gray is a leader. Emily is a perfect fit for Ropes & Gray and the characteristics that set us apart: We tackle the most complex issues for clients in industries like asset management and private equity that are defined by complexity.”
Bryan Chegwidden, global head of the firm’s asset management group, says: “Emily’s broad investor and sponsor experience will further enhance our leading global investment funds platform, benefitting our clients as we guide them through an increasingly complex landscape. We’re delighted to have her on board.”
Tom Alabaster, EMEA head of funds at Ropes & Gray, says: “I am very much looking forward to working with Emily. She is a recognised leader in the market and her arrival adds to our momentum as we enhance our full-service private funds and asset management capability in EMEA. Emily is the perfect fit to continue this drive forward as we respond to a growing demand from our clients.”
Will Rosen, managing partner of Ropes & Gray’s London office, says: “Our strategy is focused on becoming London’s pre-eminent international law firm for private capital clients. Emily’s appointment is another step towards that goal, building on those of funds partner Tom Alabaster, restructuring partner Matt Czyzyk and special situations partner Samuel Norris in 2020, and – only this week – life sciences regulatory partner Lincoln Tsang. We will continue to invest in our market-leading platform to support client needs as they evolve.”
