Sidley Austin boosts its private equity practice by adding James MacArthur and Ed Freeman

Sidley Austin boosts its private equity practice by adding James MacArthur and Ed Freeman

The two were previously working with Weil Gotshal & Manges

One of the top 10 US firms, Sidley Austin has hired James MacArthur and Ed Freeman to increase its private equity, energy, transportation, and infrastructure practices. The London office has added six new partners this year.

MacArthur has over 20 years of experience advising corporates and private equity sponsors on European and global infrastructure deals. Freeman’s practice covers cross-border private equity and M&A, with a focus on the infrastructure sector.

Tom Thesing, the managing partner of the firm’s London office, said, “Fund managers focused on infrastructure assets have raised ever-increasing amounts of capital in recent years. With the arrival of MacArthur and Freeman, we will be in an even better position to serve our global clients’ needs.”

Cliff Vrielink, the global leader of the firm’s energy, transportation and infrastructure practice, remarked, “MacArthur and Freeman will enhance our ability to serve our fund clients in particular and develop stronger global relationships in the wider infrastructure sector. I have known MacArthur for many years, and their combined experience will help bolster our global team and expand our work for strategic clients and private equity and infrastructure funds.”

MacArthur and Freeman were earlier serving at Weil Gotshal & Manges.

MacArthur spent six years in Weil Gotshal & Manges, where he was a partner in its London private equity team. Prior to that, he spent almost seven years as head of private equity at Herbert Smith Freehills and had stints at Kirkland & Ellis, and White & Case.

Freeman worked with Weil Gotshal & Manges for almost five years. He joined as an associate in 2018 and worked his way up to counsel in 2020, and a partner early this year. Previously, he worked at Clifford Chance.