Kennedys continues corporate and commercial expansion with new partner hire

We are pleased to announce another key appointment to our growing corporate and commercial division.

Partner Matthew Poli, who joins from (formerly) BLM, will be based in London but will work with clients globally on a broad range of non-contentious matters including mergers and acquisitions, private equity fundraising, joint ventures, restructuring, corporate finance and governance advisory.

Matthew has significant experience in cases involving complex share issues, swaps, buy-backs, reductions and demergers with values exceeding £1.5 billion.

Our global corporate and commercial group has seen rapid expansion in recent years and now has more than 150 lawyers working across multiple jurisdictions including the UK, US and Bermuda, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

Matthew says: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build on Kennedys’ already successful corporate practice as the firm’s global reach provides a significant platform for future growth.

“For international clients, that worldwide network of specialists with expertise across so many jurisdictions is an extremely attractive proposition.”

Ben Aram, global head of Kennedys’ corporate and commercial division, adds: “I would like to warmly welcome Matthew whose impressive experience and expertise in an area we have seen increasing demand for will be a huge asset to us and our clients.

“His appointment is also another example of our commitment to delivering a truly holistic service to clients, providing the knowledge and innovative thinking required to reach a resolution, whatever and wherever their challenge.”

The division recently welcomed Iskander Fernandez who also joined from BLM in November as a white-collar crime and investigations specialist, acting for corporate clients and individuals on issues including allegations of bribery, corruption, money laundering, tax evasion and fraud.

Sean Angle, an experienced corporate and projects partner with 36 years’ experience, joined the our Middle East team from Stephenson Harwood in April this year.

Kennedys’ London team will move into the city’s landmark Walkie-Talkie building later this year as part of ‘Workwise’, a global programme to upgrade the firm’s working environments, including our technology and people policies as well as physical workspaces.

We also continues to forge ahead with further expansion plans and in the last few weeks have opened new offices in Brisbane, Australia, and Houston, Texas.