German heavyweight Gleiss Lutz has added an Akin Gump restructuring partner to its recently opened London office.
Financial Restructuring expert Dr Christian Halász will join Gleiss Lutz in the U.K. capital on March 1, the firm announced.
Halász brings almost two decades of experience to the firm, particularly in complex cross-border debt restructuring, to the firm, eight years of which he spent at Akin Gump in London and Frankfurt.
The hire is the latest indication of Gleiss Lutz’s expanding international outlook and follows the launch of its London office in January. The office focuses on advising clients on complex international finance, M&A and private equity transactions, distressed M&A and restructuring scenarios as well as antitrust issues, especially actions for damages, as well as advising British companies on E.U. law post-Brexit.
According to a firm statement, the move reflects its desire to develop a broader base of expertise for advising investment funds, many of which are still based in London, despite Brexit.
Before his eight years at Akin Gump, he was a partner at now-defunct U.S. firm Bingham McCutchen for almost five years.
He said leaving Akin “wasn’t an easy decision” and he hopes to continue working with his colleagues in the future.
“After many rewarding years and fascinating cases at Akin Gump, especially with regard to my close connection with the restructuring teams in London and New York, it wasn’t an easy decision to leave,” he said.
Gleiss Lutz co-managing partner Michael Arnold said Halász’s experience would greatly benefit the new London office, in particular, “the strengthening of our ties with international funds and distressed debt investors”.
A spokesperson for Akin Gump thanked Halasz “for his contributions to the firm over the years, and wishes him all the best”, adding, “the firm, and particularly the financial restructuring team, looks forward to working together with Christian and Gleiss Lutz in future.”
