New York Law Firms Add Partners in Finance and M&A

New York law firms are continuing to invest in their finance and transactional practices by recruiting experienced partners from other firms and financial institutions.

Dechert LLP announced the hiring of Jon Ruiss as a partner in its global finance practice. Ruiss will be based in New York and will focus on warehouse lending, mortgage servicing rights, and special finance rights. The firm stated that Ruiss will help lead negotiations in various financing arrangements, drawing on his background in residential and commercial mortgage finance and whole-loan purchases.

Ruiss is a certified public accountant who previously worked as an auditor at a global public accounting firm. He earned his J.D. from St. John’s University and his B.S. from Villanova University. Dechert has added more than 55 lateral partners this year as part of a strategy to strengthen capabilities in litigation, investment management, finance, and restructuring. Dave Forti, co-chair of Dechert, said the firm is building its global finance platform around the asset classes where its clients are most active.

White & Case LLP hired Simone Greenspan as a partner in its Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and Global Private Capital Industry Group. Greenspan is joining from Goodwin Procter, where she served as a partner. In her new role, she will advise clients on complex corporate transactions, including equity and debt financings. The firm noted that Greenspan represents private equity and growth equity sponsors as well as multinational companies in US and cross-border transactions.

Heather McDevitt, chair of White & Case, said Greenspan will expand the firm's sponsor-side offering and deepen its ability to serve private equity clients. Oliver Brahmst, Global Co-Head of Private Capital at White & Case, added that Greenspan's experience in growth equity and traditional private equity will deepen the firm's capabilities across the investment life cycle. Greenspan received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and is admitted to the New York bar.

Sullivan & Cromwell welcomed Michael B. Hickey as a new capital markets partner in its New York office. The firm described Hickey as a lawyer with extensive experience advising financial institutions, private equity sponsors, and corporate clients on initial public offerings, debt transactions, and liability management transitions. Hickey previously worked at Goldman Sachs as managing director and head of its Leveraged Finance Legal Team. In that role, he handled middle market financing, restructuring, and bank debt portfolio groups.

Robert Giuffra and Scott Miller, co-chairs of Sullivan & Cromwell, said Hickey's relationships in the financial community and his ability to lead complex transactions make him a strong addition to the Capital Markets team. Hickey received his J.D. and M.B.A., both magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame. He also earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University.

These hires reflect a trend among large New York firms to bolster their transactional practices. Dechert aims to strengthen its finance and securitization groups. White & Case is focusing on private capital capabilities, while Sullivan & Cromwell is reinforcing its capital markets team with experienced leaders from major financial institutions.