White & Case poaches Clifford Chance banking co-head

Mr Sarch has been a partner with Clifford Chance since 2001 and is currently co-head of the firm’s global banks sector team. His hire by White & Case follows an announcement form the firm in November that growth of its London office would be a key component of its new five-year strategic plan. White & Case intends to grow its London lawyer headcount from around 350 currently to 500 lawyers by 2020.

Hiring spree

Mr Sarch is following in the footsteps of former Ashurst head of disputes Mark Clarke and former head of Berwin Leighton Paisner’s European and Middle East tax practice Michael Wistow, both of whom have made the switch to White & Case’s London office this year. Yesterday, White & Case also confirmed the hire of former BNY Melon regulatory head James Greig.

Corporate star

Mr Sarch specialises in corporate finance, domestic and cross-border public company M&A, corporate and acquisition financing structures, secondary issues and capital restructuring. Most recently, Mr Sarch played a key role advising beverage giant AB InBev’s controlling shareholders on the company’s mammoth $285bn merger with SABMiller. He also advised on Kraft Food’s unsolicited £11.5bn takeover bid for Cadbury in 2011.

Sources: Legal Week; Legal Business