Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP has expanded its London presence with the appointment of Francesca Storey-Harris as a partner in the firm’s Corporate Department, joining both the Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity groups. The move strengthens the firm’s advisory capabilities across high-value corporate transactions in the United Kingdom, Europe and international markets.
Storey-Harris is widely recognized for advising private equity sponsors and corporate clients on a broad range of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions of private and public companies, as well as complex cross-border matters. Her appointment marks a notable enhancement to Paul, Weiss’s European transactional bench at a time when the firm continues to deepen its global private equity and M&A footprint.
Her experience spans many high-profile mandates. She has advised Thoma Bravo on its acquisition of Darktrace, its investment in LOGEX and the acquisition by its portfolio company J.D. Power of AutoVista. She has also represented Blackstone on its acquisition of Hipgnosis, its partnership with Hipgnosis Songs Capital to acquire music catalogues, and its acquisition of a majority stake in VFS Global. Additional work includes advising EQT on the acquisition of Dechra Pharmaceuticals through an EQT-led consortium, Brookfield on its acquisition of Hibernia REIT, and Energy Capital Partners on its combination with Bridgepoint Group. She also represented J.M. Huber in its sale of CP Kelco to Tate and Lyle.
Storey-Harris joins the firm with substantial industry recognition, having been named a Rising Star and Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 UK for upper mid-market and premium M&A. She earned an M.A. with Triple First Class Honors and an M.Phil with Distinction from Newnham College at the University of Cambridge, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP Law School. She is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Paul, Weiss’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice advises many of the world’s largest private equity firms, publicly traded corporations, and privately held companies on business-critical transactions. The firm’s Private Equity Group works with investors across a wide range of strategies, supporting complex deals throughout the investment lifecycle.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are thrilled to welcome Francesca, a skilled private equity and M&A lawyer, to our partnership. Her significant experience representing leading private equity firms and private and public companies will further strengthen our ability to advise our clients on their most consequential matters in the UK, Europe and beyond.”
Brad S. Karp, Chairman, Paul, Weiss
“I am excited to once again work alongside Francesca when she joins our growing London team. She will bring notable expertise across corporate transactions, having advised on some of the most critical European M&A and private equity deals of the last few years.”
Roger Johnson, Global Co-Chair of the M&A Practice and Co-Head of the London Office
“Francesca has a superb reputation for her work in the world of M&A, and we couldn’t be happier to her join our practice.”
Dan Schuster-Woldan, Head of European Public M&A
