Norton Rose appoints private equity chief

International law firm Norton Rose has continued its strategy of positioning itself as a leading European private equity advisor with the appointment of David Baylis. Baylis, currently head of private equity at Hammond Suddards Edge, will join Norton’s 15-strong team of private equity partners across Europe.

“Private equity is of strategic importance to our corporate finance and banking practice,” said Jill Gauntlett, private equity partner at Norton Rose’s London office. “We are seeing some serious cross-border activity which is a clear opportunity for a firm like Norton Rose.”

Over the last 18 months Norton Rose has built private equity teams in the UK, France and Germany. The last 12 months have seen lateral hires of private equity partners, Eric Laplante and Thierry Leleu in Paris and Eric Michel, Ralph Drouven, Dirk Otto, Katharina Specht-Jonen, Alex von Bergwelt and Frank Herring in Germany.

Norton Rose, which has 3 private equity partners in the UK, 3 in France, 6 in Germany as well as capability in Italy, Greece, the Czech Republic and Poland, has acted for a range of major private equity houses across Europe including Apax, Cinven, PPM Ventures and Mezzanine Management.