Overview
LONDON (2 February) – International law firm McDermott Will & Emery announced today that Andrew Vergunst will head its London office effective 1 April 2016. Mr. Vergunst takes over from Hugh Nineham who will be retiring at the end of March after eight years at the Firm.
An internationally recognized Private Client lawyer, Mr. Vergunst joined the Firm’s London office in 2009 from the London office of Maitland, where he held positions as group director, law partner and the head of their Private Client department. He has extensive experience in international and cross border trust, tax, estate and strategic planning for high-net-worth individuals, multinational families and their businesses, executives and entrepreneurs. Mr. Vergunst advises clients on integrated international tax planning and structuring, including income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance/estate tax, employment benefit and migration planning, with a particular focus on the UK, the US and South Africa. A member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, Mr. Vergunst is also a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (UK).
“We want to express our sincere gratitude to Hugh Nineham for his steady leadership over the past eight years,” said McDermott co-chair Peter J. Sacripanti. “During his tenure, the London office has experienced continued and measured growth, particularly in such key areas of strength as Corporate and Private Client. McDermott has attracted some of the world’s most talented Corporate, Tax, Energy and Private Client lawyers, allowing the Firm to broaden and deepen its client base in the UK and throughout Europe. This enviable team of talent is a tribute to the hard work that Hugh has done over the years.”
“We are delighted to welcome Andrew into his new role as London office head,” added co-chair Jeffrey E. Stone. “He will play a leading role both locally and globally as McDermott’s London office works to expand its services for clients, be they multinational companies, rising entrepreneurial firms, capital providers, financial institutions or the world’s wealthiest individuals and families. We are looking forward to a great year ahead.”
Mr. Vergunst will continue his fee-earning work while leading the London office through the next phase of its development, focusing on dynamic growth in its key areas, corporate and private client.
McDermott also announced that London corporate partner Mark Davis has been named head of the Firm’s London Corporate Advisory Practice Group. Mr. Davis has a wide range of experience in private equity and other merger and acquisition transactions and has represented a number of the largest buy-out funds in Europe and the United States and global corporates in connection with complex cross-border deals.
About McDermott Will & Emery
McDermott Will & Emery is a premier international law firm with a diversified business practice. Numbering more than 1,000 lawyers, we have offices in Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Munich, New York, Orange County, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. Further extending our reach into Asia, we have a strategic alliance with MWE China Law Offices in Shanghai.