Paul Hastings has expanded its London office with the addition of leading tax lawyers Jenny Doak and Catherine Richardson as partners, strengthening the firm’s global tax platform and supporting growing demand for counsel on complex strategic transactions. The move advances the firm’s plan to build a premier U.K. and international tax capability integrated with its global transactional practices.
Both partners bring substantial experience advising clients on multi-jurisdictional tax matters across M&A, private equity, finance, capital markets, structured credit, and fund-related transactions. Doak joins from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where she advised on large-scale public and private M&A, joint ventures, financings, restructurings, and special situations, while also representing clients in tax litigation and providing consultancy advice. Richardson brings broad expertise across direct and indirect U.K. and international tax, including structured credit, debt, and equity capital markets transactions, fund finance, real estate financing, and corporate M&A, having previously served at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
The hires come during a period of significant growth for Paul Hastings in London, where revenue is projected to rise between 20% and 25% year-over-year and by 70% over the past two years. The firm has identified London as a key growth market given the increasing demand for advice on complex cross-border deal activity. The new partners expand the firm’s transactional coverage across sectors, including energy and infrastructure, TMT, financial services, insurance, and investment management.
Doak has advised clients such as British Columbia Investment Management, Global Infrastructure Partners and Lone Star, and has played a role in transactions including the Chapter 11 plan for Avon Products Inc., a $7 billion investment into Convex Insurance, and the $2.7 billion take-private of Soho House & Co. Richardson has advised institutions including Bank of America, Barclays, Citigroup, CVC, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Merrill Lynch. Her representative matters include advising on the first European middle-market private credit CLO for Barings and working on Bayport Management’s recapitalization transaction.
Their arrival follows several recent additions to Paul Hastings’ global tax team in New York, Washington, D.C., and Dallas, supporting continued investment in the tax structuring and advisory capabilities required for complex high-value transactions across M&A, private equity, asset management, capital markets, structured finance, and restructuring situations.
KEY QUOTES:
“Our London office is projected to be up over 20 percent this year, driven by incredible demand across all of our transactional practices. The addition of Jenny and Catherine and likely more tax hires to come reflects our strategic priority of building a premier tax practice in London—and globally— providing intellectual capital and execution support to meet this record demand,” said firm Chair Frank Lopez. “Being a market leader in London is a strategic priority for our firm, so it is essential that we continue to evolve and strengthen with premier talent like Jenny and Catherine in order to continue to take market share for sophisticated clients on their most complex matters.”
Frank Lopez, Chair, Paul Hastings
“Paul Hastings’ transactional practices are experiencing exceptional momentum, handling some of the most complex and high-value deals worldwide,” said Doak. “I am excited to join at such a dynamic time for the firm and look forward to contributing to the continued growth of its leading transactional platform in London and across the globe.”
Jenny Doak, Partner, Paul Hastings
“It is impossible to ignore Paul Hastings’ trajectory and impressive track record setting the standard for complex financing transactions,” said Richardson. “The opportunity to contribute to the firm’s continued growth and to strengthen its tax platform in the U.K. and beyond is tremendously exciting.”
Catherine Richardson, Partner, Paul Hastings
