A global financial services regulation expert, who worked at Deutsche Bank for 17 years, and a former Bank of New York Mellon executive have chosen to leave corporate life for law firms. One in Australia, the other in America.

“Growing need”

Former Deutche Bank general counsel, Joseph Longo, has returned to his old firm Herbert Smith Freehills. He was a general counsel for the bank in the UK and EMEA, and previously served as its general counsel in the Asia-Pacific. At HSF, he will be based in the global firm’s office, advising clients located across Australia as well as those in Asia and the UK. He also has experience as a regulator, having been the national director of enforcement at ASIC. HSF’s regional head of dispute resolution, Luke Hastings, said Mr Longo’s appointment reflected the “growing need for specialist global banking experience in the Australian market.” With the “ever-increasing regulatory focus on financial services institutions in Australia,” he said, HSF is continually looking for ways to “share with our clients our global experience of responding to these developments.” Mr Hasting explained, Mr Longo’s experience “spans several continents in legal advisory, regulatory enforcement, and internal legal and commercial matters. He has navigated multijurisdictional investigations and regulatry enforcement activity, and that experience is of particular interest to our clients.”

“True pioneer”

Also jumping over the fence is Adam Solowsky, who served as managing director and managing counsel at Bank of New York Mellon, where he advised the bank on corporate trust matters and global operations. Adding additional depth to its global corporate trust capabilities, Reed Smith has announced that Mr Solowsky has joined the firm as counsel in its financial industry group in New York. In previous roles, Mr Solowsky served as lead lawyer on some of the highest-profile credit crisis workouts. Ed Estrada, global chair of Reed Smith’s financial industry group, said “A true pioneer in the field, Adam has operated across the lifecycle of deals, from the bidding process, through negotiation, daily deal management and on to terminations and defaults - a skill that we know will be in high demand by our clients.”