CMS restructures private equity team

James Grimwood

CMS Cameron McKenna has reorganised its private equity team for the UK and Central and Eastern Europe in the wake of some senior departures.

The firm has appointed James Grimwood, who was recently made head of the global private equity team at CMS, as head of the UK sector team, the firm said in a statement. Grimwood replaces the former UK private equity head, David Bresnick, who left in October.

Also, CMS has made David Butts and Graham Conlon, who have been partners at the firm, the heads of the Central and Eastern Europe private equity practice. The two lawyers replace Ted Cominos, who relocated to Los Angeles for family reasons, and became a partner at Edwards Wildman.

In addition, CMS’s regional banking team partner, Ana Radnev, will remain deputy leader of the firm’s international private equity sector group, the firm said.

As funds raised during the peak of the credit bubble reach the end of their lifecycles, private equity firms are under increased pressure to return cash to LPs, the firm said in the statement, adding that this is creating a number of “exciting investment opportunities for new investors”.

“The UK and CEE team has a strong combination of youth, age and experience. This expertise means we can help clients looking to buy out, sell or deal across the continent and take advantage of the current deal environment,” Grimwood said in the statement.

CMS, created in 1999, has 2,800 lawyers across 53 offices in Europe, Russia, China, North Africa and South America. Some of the firm’s clients include: Advent International, Mid Europa Partners, BC Partners and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.