Sullivan & Cromwell Poaches Two Paul Hastings Partners in London

Sullivan & Cromwell is expanding its London office by poaching two Paul Hastings partners in the City.

The New York-based firm hired Patrick Bright and William Needham, who practice in the capital markets and restructuring groups, respectively.

Bright will lead the firm’s high-yield debt capability, the firm said in a statement, while Needham will serve as co-head of the firm’s European restructuring and special situations practice. Both roles are similar to titles the lawyers had held at Paul Hastings.

Bright had joined Paul Hastings in 2022 from Weil Gotshal & Manges, while Needham had come over from the same firm in 2024.

Sullivan & Cromwell has become more acquisitive in London in recent months, bringing aboard a handful of partners since entering the lateral market in June by bringing on board a former A&O Shearman finance partner.

The firm’s London office managing partner, John Horsfield-Bradbury, said at the time that they would look to add lawyers in private capital, restructuring, private equity, and finance—a goal the firm has since largely achieved.

Paul Hastings, for its part, has seen some churn in its London office. Mei Lian, a corporate and structured finance partner who served as its London co-chair, in August left for Linklaters and tax partner Arun Birla, a former chair of its London office, headed to White & Case three months later.

The firm has also been hiring partners in the office, which has seen its revenue roughly double to $250 million last year, the firm told Bloomberg Law.