Simpson Thacher secures finance and credit duo in London from Weil

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has bolstered its London bench with the hire of a pair of finance and credit partners from US rival Weil Gotshal & Manges.

Paul Hibbert and Emma Serginson will focus on financing and credit matters across the infrastructure sector, among other areas, Simpson Thacher said.  

Hibbert has joined the 900-lawyer firm after nearly seven years as a partner at Weil, having earlier practised at Baker McKenzie and Clifford Chance.  

Recognised by rankings guides as a leading lawyer in both banking and finance and infrastructure he advises companies, PE sponsors and their portfolio companies on complex acquisition and leveraged finance matters across the infrastructure sector, including digital, transport, energy and energy transition, as well as social infrastructure. At Weil he worked with clients including Macquarie Asset Management, APG Asset Management and Omers Infrastructure.  

Meantime Serginson, who previously spent time on secondment at the credit products legal team of JPMorgan in London, focuses her practice on infrastructure, leveraged acquisition finance, domestic and cross-border debt and other corporate finance transactions. She became a partner at Weil earlier this year, having joined the firm as an associate in 2018 from Ropes & Gray.  

“Paul is widely regarded for his technical proficiency and commercial acumen on credit transactions across infrastructure asset classes – from regulated utilities and energy transition to digital and social infrastructure – and Emma is a rising star in the space,” said Amy Mahon, co-head of Simpson Thacher’s energy and infrastructure practice. “They will complement the firm’s finance team, particularly as it continues to expand in London, as well as our growing global energy and infrastructure practice.”

Simpson Thacher’s London infrastructure team works with investment firms including KKR and Stonepeak and regularly advises on high-value international M&A across a range of sectors, including telecoms and energy. The team also regularly assists infrastructure funds with debt refinancing and acquisition finance matters.

The firm’s London office houses around 240 lawyers according to the firm’s website, including more than 50 partners. Over the past 12 months it has gained 13 new partners through internal promotions and lateral hires, including David Edwards from Skadden to co-head its European disputes practice and real estate private equity lawyer Angus Lennox from longtime client Blackstone.    

Last December funds partner Katie McMenamin also joined from leading UK independent Travers Smith. Her arrival followed funds partners Ed Ford and Sacha Gofton-Salmond joining from Travers early last year, as the firm positioned itself to exploit the increasingly lucrative secondaries deals market.  

A Weil spokesperson said of the departures: “We thank Paul and Emma for their contributions and wish them well.”

The duo’s exit leaves Weil with two infrastructure-focused partners in London according to its website – Murray Cox and Brendan Moylan, the latter of whom joined from Latham & Watkins last March.

Around the same time Weil saw infrastructure-focused private equity partner duo James MacArthur and Ed Freeman move over to Sidley Austin’s London office.

Weil’s London office is roughly the same size as Simpson Thacher’s, with 48 partners.