Paul Hastings has added former Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher global M&A co-chair and shareholder activism defense chair Eduardo Gallardo to its New York office, continuing a string of high-profile lateral moves the firm has made over the past several months.
Gallardo will serve as co-chair of Paul Hastings’ M&A practice group.
“Eduardo is among the most highly respected, elite dealmakers trusted by the world’s leading global corporations, asset managers and financial institutions to advise them on their most critical and complex transactions,” Seth Zachary, chair of Paul Hastings, said in a statement. “We view Eduardo’s joining as an important milestone for our global M&A practice and are delighted to welcome him to the firm.”
Gallardo’s practice focuses on public and private M&A, corporate takeover defense, corporate governance matters and takeovers, the firm said.
He has also represented both in proxy contests, leveraged buyouts, spinoffs, divestitures and other complex corporate transactions.
“It’s an incredible firm,” Gallardo said. “The leadership right now is what distinguished them to me personally. I have known the firm since I got into the industry, but after meeting Seth and the energy and the entrepreneurial spirit I got from them, it is clear they grew an amazing platform. You can tell by the quality of the laterals they are attracting.”
Gallardo has represented many companies in multibillion-dollar deals, including representing Fifth Wall Acquisition Corp. in its $2.2 billion buy of SmartRent and Towers Watson in its $18 billion merger of equals with Willis Group.
Gallardo was at Gibson Dunn for over 17 years before making the move to Paul Hastings. Prior to that, he was an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
“Paul Hastings’ growth and brand momentum is currently unrivaled, which is attracting some of the strongest and most dynamic talent in the legal market today, and I look forward to taking an active role in shaping the global M&A and corporate takeover defense practices alongside incredible colleagues,” Gallardo added in a statement.
Gallardo isn’t wrong. Paul Hastings has been the belle of the ball this year, adding the vaunted restructuring group from Stroock Stroock & Lavan, a specialist financial services team from Buckley and an energy and infrastructure group from Shearman & Sterling in addition to several notable individual moves.
At this point, the firm says it is on pace to surpass 400 lawyers in its New York office, making it one of the largest to have a footprint in the Big Apple.
A spokesperson for Gibson Dunn said the firm wishes him well.
