Perkins Coie Launches London Office with Six-Lawyer Group as Home to New European Tech-Focused Corporate Practice

Ian Bagshaw, a leading corporate lawyer who built one of London's top private equity practices, will head the new office

LONDON (May 14, 2024)—Perkins Coie today announced the launch of a new London office with a technology-focused corporate practice. The office in the world's second-largest financial center will launch with six lawyers, led by Ian Bagshaw, a renowned corporate lawyer who previously built one of London's leading private equity practices. 

Bagshaw will be joined by a team of top-of-the-market corporate lawyers including Jan Andrusko, who will be European Head of M&A, as well as three additional partners and one senior counsel. Perkins Coie's office in the heart of London's financial district will focus on serving European companies and investors. 

Building upon the firm's U.S. strength and experience advising leading technology companies and innovators, the London office will advise high-growth tech companies and their founders, mid-market private equity funds, and family offices. The strategic move further expands Perkins Coie's international presence, its strong corporate practice, and its client capabilities beyond the U.S. and Asia. 

"We're energized by the many opportunities we've identified to serve clients in London and across Europe, and to bring our highly successful track record advising tech-focused clients in the U.S. to Europe with a stellar launch team," said Bill Malley, Perkins Coie's firmwide managing partner. "We aim to quickly become a leading advisor and law firm of choice for European companies and private equity firms navigating the technological and economic disruptions of our era." 

Perkins Coie plans to leverage its first-class privacy and technology transactions practices, including with M&A transactions, to further establish and accelerate the success of the London office and team, and its focus on European growth capital clients. 

"This is a foundational move into a key global financial center," said Jason Day, firmwide co-chair of Perkins Coie's Corporate Practice. "Our vision is to build out our European team based in London with the best talent. London is a gateway to both Europe and the U.S., and we plan to continue growing there to create a unique network of European talent that will serve clients seamlessly across the continent." 

Bagshaw previously spent more than seven years as co-head of the global Private Equity group at White & Case LLP, where he developed one of London's top practices. Earlier in his career, Bagshaw was co-head of the Private Equity practice at Linklaters, and a partner with Clifford Chance LLP. Recently, he has served on several boards of directors, including as chair of Zero Gravity, a UK-based digital platform that connects students in underserved areas with leading universities and companies to create improved career opportunities. 

"Ian and Jan are market leading corporate lawyers and business originators who have represented sophisticated companies and funds across Europe," said Brian Eiting, firmwide co-chair of Perkins Coie's Corporate Practice. "This team truly checks every box, bringing a shared strategic mindset, an outstanding professional pedigree and a strong cultural fit." 

"Perkins Coie is a world-leading tech-focused law firm and one of the most forward-thinking firms when it comes to serving dynamic clients, accelerating talent, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion," Bagshaw said. "This is a unique opportunity to join an incredible firm with an energetic and focused group of high-performing lawyers, and we're excited to get to work on our clients' behalf." 

The London Team 

In addition to Bagshaw, the Perkins Coie London team will include: 

• Partner Jan Andrusko will join Perkins Coie as its European Head of M&A from White & Case, where he has been a partner in the firm's M&A practice, a member of the EMEA private equity team, and head of the firm's Central and Eastern Europe technology, media and telecommunications practice. 
• Partner Jan Stejskal focuses his practice on private equity transactions and cross-border M&A matters. He joins from White & Case, where he has been a member of the global M&A and Private Equity practice group. 
• Partner Craig Fagan is a UK-qualified lawyer with 10 years of global experience handling market leading private equity, M&A, growth and corporate transactions at top UK and U.S. law firms, including White & Case and Pinsent Masons. He has most recently served as the general counsel at London-based global fintech Bud Financial Group. 
• Partner Barry O'Driscoll is a trusted advisor with extensive experience in a variety of corporate transactions, including private equity, IPOs, acquisitions, disposals, and take-privates. He most recently served as general counsel of a leading private equity backed SaaS business. 
• Senior counsel Jan Jakoubek joins Perkins Coie from White & Case, where he has been a member of the firm's M&A corporate practice group. He concentrates his practice in M&A, commercial and media law, and corporate finance.