Top 10 US firm White & Case has hired experienced M&A lawyer Richard Browne in London from A&O Shearman, the latest high-profile transactions lawyer to join the firm in the UK.

Browne joins as a partner, with his practice focusing on advising UK public and private companies, as well as international corporates, on hostile and recommended public takeover bids, auctions and private transactions. He also advises on joint ventures, governance and disclosure matters and a full suite of equity capital markets transactions.

Heather McDevitt, White & Case chair, said: “Following the hires of a number of high-profile M&A partners globally, we are continuing to further build out our high-end M&A practice to ensure we are best placed to advise our broad corporate client base on their most complex and important transactions. The addition of Richard, a highly rated corporate partner, aligns with the firm’s strategy to continue to invest in M&A.”

Browne arrives after more than three decades at Allen & Overy, where he was a partner and also global co-head of its corporate practice for four years until August 2020.

John Reiss, head of White & Case’s global M&A practice, said: “Over the past five years we’ve intensified our focus on UK public M&A and public company work, advising on transformative deals for significant clients.

“The addition of Richard, one of the elite M&A practitioners in London, not only enhances our position in the London market but also enriches the depth and strength of our practice globally.”

His showreel of high-profile deals while at A&O include Marks and Spencer’s purchase of a 50% stake in Ocado’s online retail business, BTG on its £3.3bn takeover by Boston Scientific and Cobham on its £4bn takeover by Advent International.

Patrick Sarch, head of public M&A at White Case, said: “Richard has a deserved reputation as a trusted boardroom adviser to major UK companies and banks. His market-leading status and technical expertise make him a valuable addition to White & Case in London, bolstering our reputation for handling complex, cross-border M&A involving listed entities, as well as other strategic corporate matters.”

Browne is the latest M&A lawyer to join the US firm in London this year following the arrivals of Sarch in February from Hogan Lovells, where he was co-head of UK M&A, and Savi Hebbur, who joined in May after more than 18 years at Linklaters.