Global law firm Freshfields has today announced the significant expansion of its global energy and infrastructure (E&I) business with the appointments of two leading E&I practitioners. Partners Jessamy Gallagher and Stuart Rowson will join the firm’s energy and infrastructure practice, based in London. Both will join from Paul Hastings.

An internationally renowned lawyer, Gallagher will serve as Global Co-Head of Energy & Real Assets group alongside London partner Richard Thexton. She focuses on international public and private M&A, and global pension, infra and fund manager clients, and has also advised several FTSE listed clients. Rowson joins with more than 25 years of experience and brings a wealth of asset expertise since pivoting his practice over a decade ago to focus on advising private capital clients and lenders on financing E&I assets and complex infrastructure refinancings.  

Senior partner Georgia Dawson said: “Jessamy and Stuart’s arrival accelerates our continued global growth in Europe, the US and beyond. Energy and infrastructure continue to present unique and transformative opportunities for both our private capital and corporate clients and this move sees us actively supporting their needs. Our global strength continues to be recognised by recent global M&A league table results where we excel in cross-border, European, US, Asia, MENA, and private equity markets – underscored by Chambers Global recognition across 105 top tier Band 1 rankings.”

Gallagher and Rowson will work closely with Richard Thexton and Freshfields’ wider E&I and private capital teams in Europe, the US, and Asia to drive forward the strategic growth of Freshfields’ global E&I advisory capabilities.

Global Co-Head of the Energy & Real Assets group, Richard Thexton, commented: “Jessamy and Stuart join us at a pivotal moment when we look to expand our global E&I offering across the full range of private capital and strategic investors in the energy, energy transition and broader infrastructure sectors. We anticipate increased investment in these areas notwithstanding political policy shifts by new government administrations which are driving significant changes,  and creating challenges, across industries and sectors. There are incredibly strong synergies between Jessamy and Stuart’s client relationships and ours and we are all eager to start talking to our clients about our enhanced offering.”

Charles Hayes, Global Co-Head of Private Capital, said: “Our vision is clear: to continue to build on our leading European buyout heritage and increasing US presence, while evolving to operate seamlessly across global markets. We are dedicated to delivering a differentiated, world-class client service experience, tailored to the unique needs of our private markets asset manager clients, and remain agile in supporting them across all strategies in which they deploy capital.”