Addition of Andrew Boyd and Gary Brown represents the latest expansion of the firm’s corporate M&A capability and broadening of its European offering

Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that Andrew Boyd and Gary Brown have joined the firm’s London office as partners in its Corporate practice. Mr. Boyd and Mr. Brown come to Morrison & Foerster from Latham & Watkins. They bring to the firm strong expertise in cross-border M&A transactions.

The arrival of Mr. Boyd and Mr. Brown highlights Morrison & Foerster’s ongoing focus to further broadening its European capabilities. Their arrival strengthens the London office’s Corporate practice following the appointment of Graeme Sloan as London Corporate head and global M&A co-chair, and the arrival of Corporate partner Vlad Maly in recent months.

“Our recruitment of Andrew and Gary is another signal of our intention to expand our global M&A offering and grow our Corporate practice in London. We are also actively recruiting associates in London to further build out the team,” said Paul Friedman, Morrison & Foerster’s managing partner for Europe. “We are also committed to continuing our strategic expansion of key practices in Europe following other lateral hires over the last year such as Peter Declercq and Sonya Van de Graaff becoming partners in our Business Restructuring & Insolvency Group in London, and Lokke Moerel and Alex van der Wolk joining our Privacy and Data Security Group in Berlin.”

Graeme Sloan, London Corporate head and global M&A co-chair, who was recently named by American Lawyer as one of the top 25 “splashiest lateral hires in 2015”, added: “Having previously worked with Andrew and Gary, I am delighted that we are able to invest in their tried-and-tested talent and increase the bench-strength of our corporate capabilities in London. Andrew and Gary have both led high-profile transactions and managed large international teams. Their cross-border expertise will be invaluable in providing sophisticated support to the firm’s global clients, especially those looking for a global English law M&A platform.”

Mr. Boyd’s practice focuses on advising European and U.S. strategic clients on cross-border M&A mandates, including in distressed situations, and on complex carve-out transactions, often in heavily regulated sectors.

“Morrison & Foerster advises some of the world’s most high-profile corporates on their most complex and cutting-edge transactions,” said Mr. Boyd. “I am excited about the opportunity to support the growth of the firm’s English law M&A platform.”

Mr. Brown’s practice focuses primarily on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity buyouts, and joint ventures. He has experience working for a broad range of clients, including on transactions in the pharmaceutical, technology, manufacturing, and consumer goods industries. Mr. Brown has particular expertise advising alternative asset managers on the M&A aspects of direct lending, including the acquisition and disposal of loan portfolios, and the structuring of lending joint ventures. He was the lead lawyer advising Ares Management on its €3 billion lending joint venture with GE Capital, a deal which was shortlisted for the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards in 2014.

“Morrison & Foerster’s global M&A platform is extremely appealing to me, as is the opportunity to add my experience to the firm’s extensive financial institutions expertise,” said Mr. Brown. “I am very excited about this new challenge and the current momentum the firm is enjoying in Europe.”