Paul Weiss Poaches Antitrust Partners for New Brussels Outpost

Paul Weiss has hired two antitrust partners for its planned Brussels office, as the firm continues expanding its non-US business.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett partner Ross Ferguson and UK firm Macfarlanes partner Richard Pepper come aboard in preparation for the Brussels launch, according to a firm statement Monday.

Paul Weiss’ office in the Belgian capital will be its first in continental Europe, joining the ranks of several US outfits to launch there in recent years.

The location and opening date are yet to be finalized, according to a spokesperson for the firm.

Ferguson’s clients while at Simpson Thacher have included Blackstone Infrastructure Partners and KKR, according to his Simpson Thacher profile. He will be based in Paul Weiss’ Brussels office, according to the firm’s statement.

Pepper has been a partner at prominent UK firm Macfarlanes for just under three years. He was previously counsel at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, according to LinkedIn.

He will split his time between Paul Weiss in London and Brussels, according to the firm statement.

Paul Weiss’ Brussels expansion follows its rapid growth in London, overseen by London co-head Neel Sachdev. The firm has forged a major private equity presence in the past nine months, reversing its fortunes after being left with just two partners.

“We would like to thank Rich for his contribution to our Brussels office and our competition practice, and we wish him all the best for the future,” a Macfarlanes spokesperson said.

“We wish Ross the very best in his next endeavor,” Simpson Thacher London managing partner Jason Glover and European antitrust and foreign investment group head Antonio Bavasso said in a statement.