Private Equity and M&A Lawyer Tony Downes joins Sidley Austin from Proskauer

Private Equity and M&A Lawyer Tony Downes joins Sidley Austin from Proskauer

Sidley Austin has strengthen its London private equity practice by adding Proskauer private equity and M&A lawyer Tony Downes.

Concentrating on private equity exchanges, public and private M&A, joint ventures, as well as other cross-border corporate aspects, Downes unites as a partner, with his practice. His experience spans several industries, but he frequently advises customers in the sports, betting and gaming industries.

He is the 5th private equity lateral to join the London office in 2021. Following the departures of a five-partner team to Goodwin Procter in September 2020 and two partners to Gibson Dunn in December 2021, Chicago firm continues to restock its practice.

According to Thomas Thesing, associate director of Sidley's London office and member of the firm's management and executive committee, "The skillset and experience of [Downes'] provide a fantastic complement to our private equity practise in London." Tony's relationships with several of our private equity clients will enhance our excellent client service as our private equity practice grows."

Downes joins Proskauer as a partner after two years or more, having previously worked as a senior associate at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.

Downes was the deputy general counsel of the betting company Gala Coral Group, before his most recent stint in private practise. Formerly, he served as a consultant legal advisor for the Ladies European Tour golf event.

He worked for a while as the legal director for the International Boxing Association in Switzerland, followed by stints as a senior associate at Ropes & Gray and an associate at Slaughter and May. Prior to Ashurst's merger with the venerable Australian firm Blake Dawson, he began his career there.

Tony is a fantastic addition to our private equity department, which has already experienced growth in 2022, according to Dan Clivner, co-leader of Sidley's worldwide M&A and private equity practise.

Following the acquisition of PE partner trio Dan Graham, Paul Dunbar, and Emilie Stewart from US rival Vinson & Elkins in London in August 2021, Sidley hired life sciences specialist Robert Darwin from Dechert in March 2022.

To acquire a five-person private equity team, including co-leader of its global private equity practice Erik Dahl, based in Munich and Christian Iwasko, who is based in London, Goodwin Procter's London office invaded Sidley's European practice almost two years before. Following their departure from Kirkland & Ellis in 2016, the pair was credited launching Sidley's European operations.

Goodwin Procter's London office raided Sidley's European practice for a five-sturdy private equity group, almost two years before Downes's arrival. It comprises of Christian Iwasko, located in London, and Erik Dahl, who serves as co-leader of the company's worldwide private equity department. The company is Munich-based. After leaving Kirkland & Ellis, the pair were credited with launching Sidley's European operations in 2016.

In April, US rival Ropes & Gray hired a three-person private equity team from Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson, which included Dan Oates, the head of the firm's European private equity department.