Infrastructure partners Jessamy Gallagher and Stuart Rowson have joined Freshfields from Paul Hastings.
The pair are seen as key hires for Freshfields and part of a wider private capital-focused expansion drive for the firm.
Infrastructure heavyweights Jessamy Gallagher and Stuart Rowson have landed at Freshfields from Paul Hastings, a month after the high-profile raid was announced.
The moves give a significant boost to Freshfields’ global energy and infrastructure (E&I) team, as the firm continues to double down on its global private capital strategy.
The talent
Gallagher joins as global co-head of energy & real assets, with a strong M&A and infrastructure track record - she regularly tops directory rankings for infrastructure advice and recently advised German airport operator AviAlliance on its acquisition of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports from Ferrovial and Macquarie in a £1.5bn deal.
Rowson has more than 30 years of experience and focuses on financings, mainly for private capital clients. Recent mandates include advising on the financing aspects of the AviAlliance airports deal.
Why it matters
The duo previously co-led Linklaters' global infrastructure team before joining Paul Hastings in 2022.
Their return to the Magic Circle signals Freshfields' ambitions in the private capital energy and infrastructure space - particularly as clients continue to pour capital into energy transition and core infrastructure.
Bigger picture
The hires continue Freshfields' private capital-focused expansion.
In February, the firm announced the launch of a new Boston office recruiting private capital partner Matthew Goulding from Latham & Watkins.
Announcing the moves last month, Freshfields' global co-head of energy & real assets Richard Thexton said that Gallagher and Rowson were joining at a “pivotal” moment for the firm as “we look to expand our global E&I offering across the full range of private capital and strategic investors in the energy, energy transition and broader infrastructure sectors.”
Meanwhile at Paul Hastings
The departures no doubt come as a blow to Paul Hastings which has spent the last few years building out its London infrastructure bench to great success.
Still, no need to panic just yet. The firm is currently advising CK Hutchison on the $22.8 billion sale of its global ports business to a consortium led by BlackRock - another strong sign of private capital’s appetite to invest in the sector.
And it’s still on the offensive.
Just this week, the firm announced a major international infrastructure push, hiring a three-partner team from White & Case across London, Paris, and Abu Dhabi, and launching a new office in Abu Dhabi.
Join 9,000+ City lawyers who start their day with our newsletter.
The essential read for commercially aware lawyers.
