Akin has hired an energy and infrastructure partner in London from Freshfields, continuing a spate of departures from the UK firm’s London headquarters and in Europe as it focuses on US growth.
James Chapman has joined Akin having made partner at Freshfields in 2024. His practice focuses on complex energy and infrastructure transactions, with particular experience in energy transition matters.
“James has built a leading practice at the intersection of project development, finance and M&A,” said David Sewell, co-head of Akin’s corporate practice. “His experience across both traditional and emerging energy sectors builds on our existing strengths and enhances our ability to support clients on cross-border matters.”
Chapman previously advised SSE and Equinor as co-investors in the first operational greenfield gas-fired power stations in the UK to be constructed with carbon capture, utilisation and storage technology. He also advised KEPCO on its acquisition of Simply Blue, a global floating offshore wind developer based in Ireland, and Solvay on its joint venture with Orbia for electric-vehicle battery materials.
His hire follows Akin expanding its projects platform this year with partner hires in Riyadh and Dubai from White & Case and Bracewell respectively, as well as energy and infrastructure duo Mitch Holzrichter and Nick Vallorano in Chicago from Mayer Brown.
A Freshfields spokesperson commented: “We wish James all the best.”
Chapman’s move is the latest confirmed partner exit from the UK firm, which has seen more than 40 partner departures this year according to Law.com, against a backdrop of redirecting resources and profits to fund aggressive American lateral hiring.
The defections have included senior London figures like Mary Lavelle, Freshfields’ global co-head of private funds and secondaries, who joined Debevoise & Plimpton in October, around the time international capital markets group co-head, Peter Allen, moved to HSF Kramer.
Freshfields overhauled its pay structure in late 2025 to create a more flexible, performance-based system, in a move that reportedly led to dozens of its roughly 500 partners receiving fewer equity points. Earlier this year it also axed equity partners in London, Paris and Germany, according to the Financial Times.
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
