Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has expanded its London financial services team with a funds regulatory partner hire from Freshfields.
Emma Rachmaninov will join the firm’s European funds practice in London, where she will co-head its European financial services and funds regulatory team.
She brings expertise in non-contentious regulatory matters and advises sponsors, investment banks and insurers on M&A, restructurings and IPOs.
Gareth Earl, European head of funds at Simpson Thacher, said: “As one of the most renowned regulatory lawyers in the market, Emma has a longstanding reputation for advising clients on some of the most complex regulatory areas.”
She joins after 18 years at Freshfields, becoming a partner in 2018. She is ranked as a ‘Leading Partner’ for non-contentious financial services regulatory by Legal 500.
Owen Lysak, who will be Rachmaninov’s European financial services and funds regulatory team co-head, said: “Her practice and experience will further strengthen our ability to deliver valuable regulatory guidance to clients across the alternative assets landscape internationally.”
Rachmaninov takes over the co-head role from Stephanie Biggs, who recently retired.
Wheatly MacNamara, Simpson Thacher’s European managing partner, said: “Stephanie has played a critical role in developing the firm’s regulatory capabilities during her tenure at Simpson Thacher. We thank her for her invaluable contribution to the firm.”
MacNamara added that Rachmaninov’s experience will further strengthen the firm’s capacity to help asset managers with navigate the evolving global regulatory environment.
In other financial services regulatory moves, back in March DLA Piper hired pan-European regulatory specialist Cathrine Foldberg Møller in Luxembourg from Simmons & Simmons. She advises financial institutions, insurers and fintechs on banking and payments, investment activities, product regulation and financial promotion.
In June last year, Sullivan & Cromwell made a rare London lateral hire, recruiting financial services regulatory partner Barnabas Reynolds from A&O Shearman, where he co-led its global financial services regulatory group. He was previously part of the legacy Shearman & Sterling team that merged with Allen & Overy in 2024.
That followed Sidley Austin hiring A&O Shearman’s US head of financial services regulatory a month earlier – Washington DC-based partner Barbara Stettner. Stettner had previously been a partner at A&O, where she was manager of the legacy firm’s Washington office.
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