Skadden Hires Investment Management Lawyer Trio From Akin Gump

Skadden added three partners in its investment management practice, bolstering capabilities in guiding global asset managers, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors and fund sponsors and managers.

The three depart from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. Robert Griffin, a 25-year veteran at Akin, and Skye Smith, an Akin partner for one year after shifting over from DLA Piper, will join Skadden’s Abu Dhabi office. Kapil Vishnu Pandit, who was a partner at Akin for more than 16 years, will be based in Washington, DC.

“They come with a great client base, and a lot of energy and desire to expand that client base,” said Lorenzo Corte, the global head of Skadden’s transactions practice, in an interview. “I’ve gotten to know each of Bob, Skye and Kapil, and I think they will fit very well in our team.”

The Middle East expansion comes despite unrest in the region from the Iran war, as some firms slowed down hiring and encouraged remote work. The US and Iran are expected to hold a formal signing ceremony of an interim peace deal on June 19.

Skadden launched its Abu Dhabi office in January 2025 with the hire of corporate transaction partner Michael Hilton, who was previously the regional managing partner at Freshfields. The outpost’s partner headcount has grown to seven since then, when it had three.

“We continue to be big believers in the Emirates and in the broader Middle East,” Hilton said, because clients continue to be active there.

Skadden’s investment management practice has been particularly busy with digital and traditional energy infrastructure work, Corte said. Manufacturing and software have also been focus areas, he said.

The firm’s hire of the Akin trio follows a duo the firm poached in March from Paul Hastings. Scott Heard joined the firm to lead its private credit practice, along with restructuring lawyer Matthew Murphy, who joined as a partner.