Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has hired a trio of funds partners from A&O Shearman and Clifford Chance to open an office in Luxembourg, becoming the second law firm in as many days to announce its debut in the European funds hub. 

The New York firm has hired two partners from A&O Shearman – Jean-Christian Six, who was co-head of funds and asset management and head of Luxembourg investment funds at his former firm, and Yannick Arbaut. Meantime Paul Van den Abeele has joined from Clifford Chance, where he was Luxembourg co-head of investment funds. 

The office is the elite US firm’s second in mainland Europe following its launch of a Brussels arm in 2021.

The news follows Herbert Smith Freehills’ announcement on Tuesday (26 November) it had hired a pair of counsel from A&O Shearman and a partner from Maple & Calder to open in Luxembourg, just a few weeks after the firm said it planned to create a global top 20 firm through a merger with New York-based Kramer Levin. 

Simpson Thacher’s new office is expected to open in the first quarter of 2025 and will advise sponsor clients on the formation of private and registered funds, the firm said. 

“Our Luxembourg office will enhance our support of clients on a broad range of cross-border fund formation matters, including the establishment of semi-liquid retail funds domiciled in Luxembourg,” said Gareth Earl, head of the firm’s European funds practice. 

“Jean-Christian, Paul and Yannick are well known for their commercial and solutions-oriented advice, making them a perfect fit for our European Funds team. This is an important step in the continued growth of our private funds platform in Europe, and we are delighted to welcome them to the firm,” Earl added. 

Simpson Thacher’s and HSF’s Luxembourg moves follow the country establishing itself as a premier hub for private equity and investment funds over the past decade, thanks to its regulatory framework, tax efficiencies and access to European jurisdictions. It is a dominant force in the domiciliary of funds and, with more than €5.2trn in assets under management, is second only to the US in terms of net assets of domiciled funds, according to a report by Société Générale. 

An A&O Shearman spokesperson said: "We thank Jean-Christian and Yannick for the contribution they have made to the firm and wish them all the best for the future."

A spokesperson for Clifford Chance said: •We confirm Paul Van den Abeele will leave the firm. We would like to thank him for his contribution to the firm and wish him well for the future.ª

Last week, Simpson Thacher announced the promotion of a record 44 lawyers to its partnership, up from 32 last year. There were six promotions exclusively in London with foreign investment partner Josh Buckland set to split his time between Brussels and London.