Dechert LLP has announced the return of Colin Sharpsmith as a partner in the firm’s financial services and investment management practice based in London, strengthening its financial services regulation capability. His return to the firmmarks the seventh lawyer to return to Dechert as a partner in 2021-2022. Sharpsmith has broad experience in financial services regulation, with a particular focus on investment funds and the rules governing their management and marketing in the UK and Europe. Previously an associate at Dechert, Sharpsmith is well respected within the wider industry and has been a key member of regulatory working groups such as the AIMA working group for the FSA’s first Remuneration Code. “Colin’s wide-ranging regulatory expertise advising asset managers and private equity firms will be an excellent addition to our investment management practice in London,” said Gus Black, co-chair of Dechert's global financial services group and chair of Dechert’s London Management Committee. “Colin’s return also speaks to our culture. We are thrilled to welcome him back.” Sharpsmith also commented on his reappointment. “It’s a very exciting time to be rejoining Dechert’s growing asset management practice. I am looking forward to being reunited with my former colleagues in London and helping drive the firm’s future growth in the financial regulatory space,” he said. Outside the office, Sharpsmith is an advocate for minority and disadvantaged youth. He has been a mentor with the charity African & Caribbean Diversity and volunteered for Reading Partners to support students with career development and education. Hogan Lovells has welcomed finance and fintech partner Bryony Widdup to its Corporate & Finance practice group, to be based in its London office later this autumn. An experienced banking and capital markets lawyer, Widdup advises funds, lending platforms, digital assets and blockchain-based offerings on their fundraising solutions. With over 15 years’ experience advising clients in the financial markets sector, Widdup has worked within a major European bank as well as in private practice, most recently holding the position of partner at DLA Piper. Her practice focuses on finance for funds, a broad range of lending platforms (including blockchainbased offerings) and digital assets including token structuring and issuance. She also advises on sustainable finance and investment solutions, with a particular focus on advising the crypto and digital assets sector on its net zero transition. Widdup also contributes to the sector through her roles as a member of the Advisory Council for Global Digital Finance and co-chairing the Stablecoin and Digital Assets ESG working groups. As a member of City UK, she also tackles some of the most pressing issues facing the sector. “Bryony is a talented finance lawyer with a great market reputation among the more traditional and evolving financial market players,” said James Doyle, Global Head of Lovells’ Corporate & Finance practice. Her appointment further bolsters our Digital Assets and Blockchain practice to meet the growing demand from this rapidly evolving market, while also enhancing our fund finance practice.” In a statement of her own, Widdup said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Hogan Lovells at a time when the proliferation of digital assets is driving real change across the financial services markets. “Hogan Lovells is at the vanguard of advising clients on the potential of digital assets and blockchain and its platform will enable me to continue supporting the fundraising needs of these sector clients.” Former Financial Services Partner Returns to Dechert Hogan Lovells Makes London Finance and Fintech Partner Hire London, United Kingdom Hogan Lovells London, United Kingdom Hogan Lovells LAWYERMOVES 9
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