Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has hired a senior investment funds partner from DLA Piper, as it moves to build out its investment funds practice in London. 

James O’Donnell has joined the firm after 11 years at DLA Piper, where he was global co-chair of investment funds. 

Shukie Grossman, global chair of Gibson Dunn’s investment funds practice, said: “We have been expanding our investment funds practice, and, as one of London’s leading investment funds practitioners, James is a natural fit, and a very welcome addition. James’s practice encompasses fund formation and strategic arrangements with institutional investors, and he is known as a market leader in advising on matters that sit at the intersection of these disciplines.”

Joining O’Donnell for the move is Hannah Watson Fanin, with whom he has worked for many years and will join Gibson Dunn as of counsel. 

O’Donnell’s practice is ranked Band 1 by legal directory Chambers and Partners. He advises on the establishment and operation of funds, managed accounts and joint ventures, as well as carried interest arrangements, management spin-outs and secondary and co-investment transactions. 

His clients include funds of funds, sovereign wealth funds, banks, development finance institutions, pension plans, insurance companies and fund managers.

The hire is the first for Gibson Dunn in London since Rob Carr and Osma Hudda took over as co-partners in charge of the 180-lawyer office at the start of this year and signals the firm is in growth mode in the City.

O’Donnell will be Gibson Dunn’s first dedicated investment funds partner in London; the wider investment funds practice houses eight partners in London according to its website, who practise across areas including tax, M&A, private equity and real estate. 

The firm has also recently boosted its London transactional practices with the hire of M&A partner Will McDonald from Jones Day and private equity partner Will Summers from White & Case. Last April David Irvine also joined as co-chair of global finance from Linklaters.  

O’Donnell’s move comes amid a busy hiring market for funds talent in London. Earlier this week Simpson Thacher & Bartlett hit Willkie Farr & Gallagher for a quartet of registered funds partners, citing a growing client focus on retail market products, while Paul Weiss has repeatedly targeted Kirkland & Ellis for funds partners in London as part of its rapid build out in London around private equity.