Squire Patton Boggs Announces Launch Of Geneva Office Led By Kate Sherrard
Squire Patton Boggs Announces Launch Of Geneva Office Led By Kate Sherrard
It is the firm’s 17the office in Europe
Global law firm Squire Patton Boggs has debuted in Switzerland by launching an office in Geneva headed by Kate Sherrard, the financial services Partner and commodities and shipping group co-head, who has relocated from Singapore.
It will focus on building around the firm’s core strengths including commodities and shipping, international trade, international dispute resolution, and government investigations and sanctions.
Speaking on the development, Steve Mahon, the Global Managing Partner, clients and strategy, at Squire Patton Boggs remarked, “With a strong and diverse economy that dovetails with several core areas of our global practice, including chemicals, pharma and banking, Geneva fits naturally into our global network. Sherrard is a strong leader with extensive local business connections, and we are excited to hit the ground running.”
Sherrard specializes in financing maritime and offshore oil and gas assets. She advises lenders and owners on ship-building contracts, time charters, bareboat charters, sale, purchase and commercial contracts, problem loans, enforcement, restructuring and company re‑organization.
She commented, “The world’s leading commodities houses are in Geneva, which makes for a natural initial focal point for us given the synergies with our international practice in this space. We are discussing with recruits in complementary areas and expect to grow in accordance with our strategy.”
Sherrard joined Squire Patton Boggs in 2021 after serving at Clifford Chance for five years. Before that, she was a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. Currently, she is the only full-time lawyer in the Geneva office.
The firm’s Geneva launch continues a European expansion strategy. In the past two years, it inaugurated offices in Amsterdam and Dublin, targeting corporate and private equity work. Its European practice grew at a double-digit pace over the last several years, with its Madrid and Paris teams doubling in size to 50 and 60 lawyers, respectively, and new recruits joining this year in the UK and Italy.
Mark Ruehlmann, the global CEO of the law firm highlighted Switzerland’s role as a global hub for commerce, policy and international disputes. He added that the firm had several existing relationships in the country.
Ruehlmann stated, “The Geneva office is an affirmation of our commitment to meet the multi-jurisdictional needs of clients doing business in major international commercial centres.”
The firm was created a decade ago by the merger of Washington DC-founded Patton Boggs and Cleveland’s Squire Sanders. It has 1,450 lawyers in over 40 offices globally and is among the top lobbying firms in Washington.
