Recent Placements
Rarified Air
For over 20 years, CenterPeak’s founders have been the driving force behind the most significant office openings, group acquisitions and partner placements across the United States and London. We’ve placed over 2,000 partners and opened more than 50 offices for Am Law 50 firms, with combined practices worth billions of dollars.
Selected Recent Placements
Sidley Austin strengthens its Global Finance practice with the addition of Partner Jeffrey Ross in New York. Ross joins from Debevoise & Plimpton, where he served as Finance Chair for more than 20 years. Having advised on landmark transactions including the $15 billion merger of Envision Healthcare with AMSURG and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice's $3.2 billion acquisition of Emergency Medical Services Corp, he focuses on complex acquisitions and leveraged financings. His arrival directly supports Sidley's ambitious build-out of its private equity platform, which generated $1.3 billion in worldwide sponsor-related revenue last year. CenterPeak facilitated this strategic placement through Jennifer Moss and Sabina Lippman.
Paul Hastings has strengthened its Securities Litigation practice with the addition of Daniel Laguardia and Patrick Hein as partners in San Francisco. Both join from A&O Shearman, where Laguardia served as co-head of U.S. Securities & Shareholder Litigation and Managing Partner of California. At Paul Hastings, he assumes the role of co-chair of Securities Litigation and will also practice in New York. Consistently recognized as a litigation star by Chambers USA, Legal 500, and Benchmark Litigation, Laguardia brings deep experience across securities and complex financial products, M&A disputes, shareholder actions, distressed debt, and board governance matters. Hein, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York and deputy chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Section, brings a proven trial record and robust white-collar investigations practice spanning securities, antitrust, and cross-border disputes before the DOJ, SEC, and CFTC. Together, their arrival deepens Paul Hastings' capabilities in Northern California and New York for public company clients and financial institutions. CenterPeak facilitated this strategic placement through Avery Ellis, Alejandra Nagel, and Jillian Storms.
Learn more.
Davis Polk continues to build their Executive Compensation practice in New York with Partner Amanda Gold in New York.Amanda advises clients on the executive compensation aspects of complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings, as well as on the design and implementation of equity and other incentive compensation arrangements. Amanda is recognized by Chambers USA and Legal 500 U.S. as a leader in her field.
Learn more.
Willkie expands their Banking Regulatory practice with the addition of Partner Patrick Hanchey, who joins the Corporate & Financial Services Department in Dallas. Patrick advises banks and financial institutions on state and federal banking laws, regulatory matters, enforcement actions, compliance, and other high-stakes matters. He is widely recognized for his work in banking and finance, including as a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
Learn more.
Ballard Spahr has opened its 19th office with the addition of a four-lawyer litigation team in San Francisco. Partners Stephanie A. Sheridan and Meegan Brooks lead the group. The nationally recognized team focuses on retail consumer class action defense and represents many of the country’s largest retail brands. Their practice spans false advertising, deceptive pricing, and privacy-related claims, along with compliance counseling on marketing, data privacy, and related regulations. The expansion strengthens Ballard’s West Coast presence and national litigation capabilities.
Learn more.
Steven Przesmicki has joined Sidley as a Corporate and Securities Partner in the firm's San Diego office, bringing more than 25 years of experience advising public and private companies on SEC and corporate governance matters, M&A, IPOs, private and public financings, and venture capital transactions. Previously a partner at Cooley LLP, Steve has built a deep practice across the technology and life sciences sectors — working with everyone from early-stage startups to large public companies. CenterPeak facilitated this placement.
Sidley Austin LLP has expanded its San Diego office with the addition of Michelle Doolin as a partner in the firm's Litigation practice. Doolin joins from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, where she built a distinguished practice representing clients in complex class action litigation across multiple industries. Her experience spans consumer protection, data privacy, and securities matters, with a track record of achieving favorable outcomes in high-exposure disputes. Doolin's arrival strengthens Sidley's West Coast litigation capabilities and deepens the firm's bench in class action defense. CenterPeak facilitated this placement.
Learn more
Sidley Austin LLP has strengthened its Investment Funds Group with the addition of Cliff Cone, Michael Sabin, and Daniel Drabkin as partners in New York. Cone and Sabin previously served as co-heads of Clifford Chance's US Funds and Investment Management Practice, where they represented leading clients including BlackRock and Blackstone. Cone brings deep expertise in exchange-traded, crypto-focused, hedge, and private equity funds, having advised BlackRock and VanEck on their iShares Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF launches. Sabin's practice spans private equity fund formation and regulatory matters, with experience counseling sponsors such as Five Arrows, Tikehau Capital, and Blackstone Credit. Drabkin advises fund sponsors including Nuveen and Colony Capital. CenterPeak facilitated this strategic move through Jen Moss, Alejandra Nagel, and Sabina Lippman.