Hogan Lovells Boosts Private Capital Practice By Adding James Cross, Nick Cusack And Sam Norris
Hogan Lovells Boosts Private Capital Practice By Adding James Cross, Nick Cusack And Sam Norris
The lawyers were previously working with K&L Gates, Weil Gotshal & Manges and Ropes & Gray
The American-British law firm, Hogan Lovells has created a stir by hiring three lawyers – James Cross, Nick Cusack and Sam Norris to boost its private capital practice.
While private equity deals partner Cross was serving at K&L Gates, leveraged finance transactions specialist Cusack joined as a partner from Weil Gotshal & Manges, where he was a counsel, and special situations lawyer Norris worked with Ropes & Gray.
James Doyle, the global head of Hogan Lovells’ corporate and finance practice group, said that the trio would help the firm to service the increasingly important global private capital market across the full investment lifecycle.
He added, “We continue to invest in our end-to-end transactional offering and envision further growth through the recruitment and development of talented lawyers who will continue to build on the progress we have made.”
Cross has over 20 years of experience across all forms of private equity transactions, including buyouts, secondary transactions, restructurings, complex carve-outs and bolt-on acquisitions, acting for investors and managers. Having served at K&L Gates for six years, he also worked with Reed Smith.
He has advised numerous PE sponsors including Soho Square Capital and August Equity on auction processes and bids. His expertise lies in acting for management teams, including advising the Leaders Romans Group on acquiring business by Platinum Equity in 2022, from existing investor Bowmark Capital.
Cusack has vast experience acting for PE sponsors and lenders across the capital structure, focusing particularly on private credit. He has worked on acquisition financing, real estate finance, corporate refinancings and restructuring transactions. He acted for clients including Ardian Private Debt and Bridgepoint Credit Partners.
While serving as an associate at Ropes & Gray, in 2016, he advised Liberty Global on the £3.5bn acquisition and refinancing of Cable & Wireless Communications. Later, he joined Baker McKenzie and in 2021 moved to Weil Gotshal & Manges.
Norris advises debt funds and financial sponsors on event-driven financing transactions and represents the PE capital industry on leveraging PE investments, special situations, distressed investing and other credit opportunities.
For eight years, he served as a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis and in 2020, moved to Ropes & Gray.
Commenting on their appointments, Hogan Lovells’ UK office managing partner Penny Angell, stated, “As a key engine of the firm, our London office remains of considerable strategic importance. We operate at the top of the market in London and these hires demonstrate our commitment to grow and cement our position as a global elite law firm.”
