November 24, 2020—New York—Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced that it has elevated the following attorneys to Partner, effective January 1, 2021:
William Allen (New York) — William concentrates his practice on public and private mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. He regularly represents strategic clients and private equity firms on a broad range of mergers, acquisitions, minority investments, joint ventures and dispositions across a wide variety of industries. He received his J.D. from Harvard University and his B.S.F.S., summa cum laude, from Georgetown University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
David Azcue (Tokyo) — David co-heads the Private Funds Practice in Japan. His practice focuses on representing leading sponsors on market-defining fundraisings, mainly in Asia and with a particular focus on Japan. David received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania with distinction.
Nicholas Baker (New York) — Nicholas represents public and private companies and creditors in Chapter 11 proceedings, as well as out-of-court financial restructurings. He has represented clients in some of the largest and most complex restructurings in recent years. Nicholas received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his B.A., with honors from McGill University.
Ryan Brizek (Washington, D.C.) — Ryan advises on transactional and regulatory matters involving registered funds and business development companies, with a particular focus on providing access to alternative investment strategies through regulated vehicles. He also provides investment management regulatory advice in M&A transactions and serves as transaction counsel to registered funds and their underwriters in capital markets transactions. Ryan received his J.D. from George Washington University Law School and a B.S. from Pennsylvania State University.
Sarah Eichenberger (New York) — Sarah represents clients in high-profile securities and shareholder derivative litigations, government and internal investigations, and corporate governance matters. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Duke University School of Law and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Dartmouth College, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Sarah was a law clerk to the Hon. Richard J. Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Edward Hampson (London) — Edward is a member of the Firm’s Banking and Credit and Real Estate Practices. He advises clients on a broad range of credit transactions, with a focus on sponsor-driven real estate investments and other cross-border finance issues. He received his LL.M. and LL.B. from Cardiff University and completed his Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, Birmingham.
Danielle C. Jackson (New York) — Danielle advises private equity firms, REITs and other real estate companies on an array of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, public-to-private transactions and financings. She received her J.D. from Yale Law School and her B.A. from Spelman College, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Meaghan A. Kelly (Washington, D.C.) — As a member of the Government and Internal Investigations Practice, Meaghan has extensive experience advising financial institutions, multinational corporations, investment advisers and executives in high-stakes government investigations. In addition, as a key member of the Firm’s Funds Regulatory and Investigations Practice, she specializes in advising fund managers with respect to SEC examinations and ongoing compliance, governance and disclosure issues. She received her J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and her B.A. from Dartmouth College.
Noritaka Kumamoto (Tokyo) — Noritaka is a member of the Firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Litigation Practices. He represents major Japanese and U.S. corporations and financial institutions on both inbound and outbound M&A transactions, and also represents various Japanese corporations on government investigations and litigations. Noritaka received his LL.M. from Columbia Law School, an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law and a B.A. from Waseda University School of Law.
John G. O'Connell (New York) — John represents investment banks, corporate issuers and private equity sponsors on a broad range of debt and equity capital markets transactions. He also advises clients on corporate governance and general corporate and securities law matters. John received his J.D., cum laude, from Villanova University School of Law and a B.A. from Villanova University. He clerked for the Hon. George B. Daniels of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Jean Park (New York) — Jean advises companies, investment banks and investors across the spectrum of corporate and transactional matters, including IPOs and other securities offerings, PIPE transactions, private financings and mergers and acquisitions. She focuses on working with companies and investors in the technology and healthcare sectors. She is the Head of the Emerging Growth Companies Practice. Jean received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and an LL.B. from Korea University.
Joshua Polster (New York) — Josh represents clients in high-stakes complex commercial litigation, including insurance, securities, M&A and breach of contract claims. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from New York University School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif, his M.S. from Pace University, and his A.B., magna cum laude, from Princeton University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Josh was a law clerk to the Hon. Dennis Jacobs, Chief Judge of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Étienne Renaudeau (London) — Étienne focuses his practice on obtaining antitrust approvals of high-profile transactions, which are often cross border and global in scope, as well as advising clients on antitrust litigation and ongoing counseling. He has represented clients in matters involving the European Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the French Competition Authority and other global competition authorities. He received his LL.M. from Stanford Law School and his D.E.A., with honors, from Paris II Panthéon-Assas University.
Rony L. Rothken (New York) — Rony focuses on the organization, structuring and operation of a wide range of closed-end and open-end private investment funds across multiple asset classes. He also advises clients on secondary transactions, strategic sponsor initiatives and regulatory compliance matters, including the Commodity Exchange Act. Rony received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif, and his B.A., magna cum laude, from George Washington University.
John D. Schueller (New York) — As Head of the Securitization Practice, John focuses on securitization transactions encompassing many different types of asset classes, from auto loans, leases and rental cars to cellular towers, data centers and other esoteric assets. In addition, John advises the managers of collateralized loan obligations and borrowers under securitized leveraged loan funding facilities. John received his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law and his B.A. from Dartmouth College.
Kate Sinclair (London) — Kate acts for leading private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on a broad range of domestic and cross-border financing transactions, including acquisition financings and fund financings. She received her B.C.L. from University College Dublin and completed her Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School.
Sophie A. Staples (New York) — A member of the Firm’s Tax Practice, Sophie advises clients on tax matters in a variety of transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, financings and securities offerings. She received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was awarded the John Ordronaux Prize for class valedictorian, and received her B.A. from the University of Virginia with distinction.
Linda Tieh (Houston/New York) — Linda advises sponsors on the organization, structuring and operation of private equity funds, including buyout, real estate and secondary funds, co-investment arrangements, separately managed accounts and structured secondary transactions. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her B.A. and B.B.A., summa cum laude, from The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Michael Vernace (Palo Alto) — Mike’s practice focuses on syndicated finance and other commercial lending transactions, including acquisition, leveraged, investment-grade, asset-based, corporate, receivables, net asset value and “hybrid” financings. He received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law and his B.S., summa cum laude, from Boston University.
Ryan Williams (New York) — Ryan is a member of the Firm’s Private Funds Practice. He focuses his practice on merger and acquisition transactions involving alternative asset managers. He advises clients in connection with GP stakes transactions, seed transactions and joint ventures in the asset management industry. Ryan received his J.D. from Cornell Law School and his B.S. from Duke University.