As part of expanding it U.S. and Asian antitrust capabilities to Europe, Bingham McCutchen has hired Davina Garrod for its London office as a partner in the antitrust and trade regulation practice group.
Garrod joins from McDermott Will & Emery, where she was a European Union (EU) competition and regulatory partner and led the firm’s hedge fund practice group in London office. She advises on U.S. and EU merger control law, financial services regulations, and competition-related litigation and regulatory and government investigations.
“Davina’s arrival is a terrific step in building upon our solid antitrust strength in the U.S. and Japan and extending it to the EU. Our goal is to create an antitrust team that can provide clients with global solutions to global problems,” said Donn Pickett, co-leader of Bingham’s litigation area.
Garrod also advises clients on EU and U.S. legislation affecting financial services, including the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM) Directive. The AIFM is aiimed at establishing a common regulatory and supervisory framework for the investment managers of all funds promoted to EU nvestors who are not subject to European level regulation.
She joins a team of Bingham lawyers in London, including Helen Marshall, Peter Bibby, Christopher Leonard and John Clark, who advise clients on AIFM matters.
“Davina brings a unique mix of financial services and antitrust experience that will provide our clients with the counsel they need in the current global economic climate,” said Roger Joseph, co-chair of Bingham’s financial services area and leader of the investment management group.
With the EU becoming an increasingly important jurisdiction for antitrust law, U.S.-based clients have a growing need for representation in that venue, said Bingham partner Richard Taffet, who is responsible for advancing Bingham’s global antitrust strategy.
“Davina will also allow Bingham to expand its U.S. antitrust representations to a broader base of EU clients, particularly on issues involving U.S. enforcement agencies and Congress. We will also be able to provide our resources in Asia to the EU-based clients,” he said.
“Bingham’s commitment to advancing its antitrust practice to the EU and its broader financial institutions platform provide tremendous opportunities and synergies,” said Garrod, who also advises on M&A issues for principals and investors, technology transfer and IP licensing, and cartel investigations by government agencies and regulators.
She is a litigator before European courts and offers strategic and regulatory advice regarding financial services, energy and environmental issues.
