Sidley Austin UK Private Equity Lawyer Jumps to Rival McDermott

Sidley Austin private equity partner Fatema Orjela is joining McDermott Will & Emery’s London office, as the the recruiting battles for UK deals lawyers continues.

Orjela’s move swiftly follows that of private equity legal veteran Graham White, who joined McDermott in March. McDermott confirmed the new hire Tuesday.

Orjela had been a partner at Sidley Austin for eight years having joined from Kirkland & Ellis, where she had been a partner. Her move to McDermott reunites her with White, with the pair working together closely while at Kirkland.

“Fatema is a fantastic addition to the practice and firm. She has an outstanding reputation in the market, synergistic client relationships and is an excellent cultural fit with our values,” Harris Siskind, global head of McDermott’s Transactions Practice Group said.

“I also look forward to joining forces with my former colleague Graham White again, whose leadership I’ve historically thrived under,” Orjela added.

McDermott is one of several US-led law firms to expand its London offering since the start of 2024.

In March, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett hired infrastructure partners Paul Hibbert and Emma Serginson from Weil Gotshal & Manges.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has also continued its concerted London growth with the addition of four partners since the start of 2024, according to a firm spokesperson.

Sidley Austin declined to comment.