HSF names Mike Flockhart as joint Corporate Managing Partner
HSF names Mike Flockhart as joint Corporate Managing Partner
Mike Flockhart, a pillar of the HSF, will succeed Stephen Wilkinson on December 1.
Mike Flockhart has been appointed as the new joint managing partner for Herbert Smith Freehills' (HSF) worldwide corporate practise as well as the regional head of practise for the UK and US.
Flockhart took over the position on December 1 and succeeded fellow London-based partner Stephen Wilkinson who is leaving the position after four years to return to full-time practise. Flockhart will collaborate with Melbourne-based Carolyn Pugsley, another corporate managing partner, to preserve a UK-Australia axis that represents the firm's primary jurisdictions.
Flockhart joined Herbert Smith Freehills as a trainee in 2003 and has been a partner since 2013. He is a corporate lawyer with a focus on M&A and ECM transactions. Presently serving as the team leader of HSF's UK equity capital markets division, he specialises in providing listed companies and investment banks with advice on corporate finance transactions in a variety of industries, including financial services, manufacturing, energy and natural resources, telecoms and real estate.
Often Flockhart provides advice on private M&A transactions and public takeovers, and frequently helps listed firms with corporate governance problems.
Recent notable mandates include Tryg's $4 billion rights issue to finance the break-up bid for RSA and EasyJet's £1.2 billion rights offer, the largest UK rights issue in the past two years. Additionally, he provided the Weir Group with strategic advice on a number of important transactions, including its $1.3 billion purchase of ESCO.
He has participated in key capital raises for companies like easyJet, Hammerson, and Phoenix Group during the course of his tenure at HSF, including the acquisitions of TSB Banking Group and Polyus Gold.
Ian Cox, executive partner, practises at HSF, stated that, "Mike has demonstrated great leadership credentials in bringing forward a number of people initiatives within the business and heading up our ECM team in London." He will collaborate alongside Carolyn Pugsley, Alberto Frasquet, Graeme Preston, and the leaders of the EMEA and Asia practises. This executive group will advance the firm's Ambition 2025 vision and continue to build on the achievements of our global corporate practise. "Additionally, I want to thank Stephen for his significant contribution to the firm's leadership."
