Clyde & Co today announced the promotion of the following partners, effective 1 May 2007:
To Senior Equity Partner:
Andrew Grant (London) Insurance and Reinsurance
Andrew has been a partner at Clyde & Co since May 2003, specialising in insurance and reinsurance. He advises London and overseas insurers and reinsurers on a large range of marine and non-marine matters. His practice includes High Court litigation and international arbitration under the rules of the London Court of International Arbitration and the International Chamber of Commerce. Andrew is best known for advice in political and trade credit risks, including advice on claims, policy wordings and recoveries.
Gavin Hill (London) Aviation Finance and Leasing
Gavin has been a partner within Clyde & Co's Aviation and Aerospace Group since January 2004. His experience extends to the financing, leasing or purchase of hundreds of aircraft around the world. In addition to advising on aviation insolvencies and restructurings and aircraft recoveries, Gavin routinely advises on most types of secured and unsecured loan and lease financing, operating leases, tax leases, purchase contract negotiations and most other types of commercial arrangement involving passenger, cargo and business aircraft.
John Leonida (London) Yachts
John specialises in international marine transactional work and is a prominent member of the firm's Yacht Group. His practice ranges from advising operators in the oil support industry to owners and builders of some of the world's most luxurious superyachts. John also advises on regulatory issues relating to the ownership of ships and has extensive experience in negotiating shipbuilding and ship financing documents. John's clients are either shipping entrepreneurs or, in the case of John's superyacht work, high net worth individuals and banks.
John Morris (London) Construction
John is head of Clyde & Co's Construction Group and has been a partner since 1999. He has amassed a wealth of experience advising on, negotiating and drafting building and engineering contracts and all supplemental documentation. John acted for the British Coal Corporation for a number of years before its dissolution, particularly in relation to the design, supply and installation of mechanical and electrical engineering plant, offshore structures, power stations, coal liquefaction, mining and environmental issues.
Chris Mills (Dubai) Dispute Resolution
Chris has been with Clyde & Co since 1979, specialising in claims and dispute resolution arising from carriage of goods by land, sea and air; salvage, collision and General Average claims; in insurance advice/litigation; charterparty disputes; and in disputes arising from international trade. Chris also acts in cases arising from ship construction/conversion disputes and aircraft maintenance disputes and has acted for clients in non-contentious matters relating to international trade contracts and shipping contracts.
Juliette Stevens (London) Corporate
Juliette Stevens joined Clyde & Co in May 2004 and is a partner in the Corporate Department. She specialises in a broad range of non-contentious insurance issues particularly those relating to corporate restructuring and exit solutions for run-off business. Juliette's practice encompasses a number of high profile insurance insolvencies and the first solvent scheme of arrangement for a London market insurer. Since then she has been at the forefront of developments in relation to solvent schemes of arrangement and FSMA Part VII business transfers and acted on the first transfer of business from a Lloyd's syndicate to an insurance company.
To Equity Partner:
Chris Edwards (Singapore) Shipping
Chris is a commercial litigator, specialising in international trade and shipping disputes. Over the last four and a half years he has been involved with a wide range of claims in the South East Asia region including those arising out of the sinking in Singapore of Jacques Cousteau's vessel, the CALYPSO.
Tim Foley (Guildford) Dispute Resolution
Tim has been at Clyde & Co since 1998 and has worked both in Guildford and Dubai. His main area of practice is commercial dispute resolution with particular emphasis on contentious property matters. Tim advises on breach of covenant (both freehold and leasehold), dilapidations, forfeiture, service charges, lease renewals, rent reviews, possession actions, nuisance, trespass and all types of landlord and tenant issues. Tim acts for diverse clients across the property industry including major retailers, developers, property companies and international companies with property interests in the UK.
Simon Kemp (London) Dispute Resolution
Simon joined Clyde & Co as a Consultant in 2001. His main areas of practice are commercial litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution. He specialises in all matters concerning the operation of the London insurance market both in London and abroad.
Simon Vere Nicoll (Guildford) Corporate
Simon joined Clyde & Co in May 2005 and advises on a broad range of private and public company and private equity corporate transactions, with a particular focus on advising hoteliers, developers, investors, fund providers and other intermediaries operating in the commercial property sector. As well as advising on mergers and acquisitions and equity fund raising, Simon provides specialist advice on structuring UK and cross-border joint ventures, property funds and other collective investment schemes.
Senior partner, Michael Payton, commented, "The appointments this year reflect a good spread of different groups and offices, both in the UK and overseas. The promotions reflect real progress in these areas, which is very pleasing."