Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is pleased to announce that Christopher Anthony, Erin Cleary, Susan Reagan Gittes, John W. Rife III and Samantha J. Rowe will become partners of the firm effective July 1, 2018. With this year’s promotions, more than 40% of all internal promotions to partner at the firm over the past 11 years have been women.
Christopher Anthony, based in the New York office, is a member of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group. His practice focuses on acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures for both private equity and corporate clients. Mr. Anthony received his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2009, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar.
Erin Cleary, based in the New York office, is a member of the firm’s Tax Department and Investment Management Group. Her practice focuses on advising private equity and corporate clients on a broad range of M&A transactions, as well as advising sponsors on the formation of U.S. and international private equity funds. Ms. Cleary joined Debevoise in 2008. She received a J.D. magna cum laude from Rutgers School of Law-Newark in 2008, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif, Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review and a recipient of the Alumni Senior Prize.
Susan Reagan Gittes, based in the New York office, is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department. Her practice is focused on helping clients navigate complex civil litigation and regulatory inquiries, including significant experience advising insurers on a wide array of industry issues. Ms. Gittes joined Debevoise in 2011. From 2010 to 2011, she clerked for the Honorable Barbara S. Jones of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Ms. Gittes received a J.D. from Harvard Law School magna cum laude in 2010, where she served as Training Director of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.
John W. Rife III, based in the London office, is a member of the Corporate Department, and a member of the Investment Management Group. He focuses his practice on advising institutional and independent sponsors of buyout, debt, secondaries, real estate, emerging markets, infrastructure and energy funds, as well as funds of funds, in connection with a broad range of matters, including fund formation and ongoing operational matters, co-investments, carried interest arrangements and internal reorganizations. In addition, Mr. Rife regularly advises sponsors and investors on secondary transactions, including fund restructurings and other sponsor-led liquidity solutions. Mr. Rife graduated in 2004 with a B.Soc.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Manchester. He obtained his GDL in 2006 from City University and his LPC from the Inns of Court School of Law in 2007. Mr. Rife was admitted as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales in 2009.
Samantha J. Rowe, based in the London office, is a member of the International Dispute Resolution and Business Integrity Groups, whose practice focuses on international arbitration and public international law. Ms. Rowe has represented private clients and States across multiple jurisdictions (most notably, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe) in arbitrations governed by various substantive laws and conducted under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, ICSID, UNCITRAL and SIAC. She has experience across a broad range of industries and sectors, including energy, mining, construction, financial services and pharmaceuticals. She advises clients on international law issues, including the international protection of investments, and represents her clients in associated disputes. Ms. Rowe is named by Who’s Who Legal in its Future Leaders: Arbitration list, which quotes client feedback saying that she is “terrific” and “doing great things.” Ms. Rowe received her B.A. (Hons.) with First Class Honours in English Law and French Law from the University of Oxford in 2006, Wadham College, a Certificat Supérieur de Droit Français from the Université de Paris II Panthéon-Assas, and received her LL.M. in International Legal Studies from New York University in 2008.
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