Orrick announced today that leading corporate advisor
Ed Lukins has joined the firm as a partner based in London. He joins from Cooley, where he helped found the London office.
Ed focuses on the life sciences, tech and oil & gas and natural resource sectors, providing advice to public and pre-IPO private companies, private equity houses, entrepreneurs and banks in connection with domestic and cross-border capital markets and M&A transactions, strategic ventures and other corporate matters. He counsels companies and their advisors through all stages of the corporate life cycle, including financings, exits, public to privates and institutional buyouts.
His active IPO practice has most recently included the U.S. listings of UK-based companies Endava (NYSE: DAVA) and Autolus Therapeutics (NASDAQ: AUTL), as well as serving as underwriters’ counsel for the IPOs of Atlassian (NASDAQ: TEAM) and Bicycle Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BCYC). Ed has also advised on a number of AIM and UK Main Market IPOs, including RenalytixAI and OKYO Pharma Limited. In the oil & gas sector, Ed recently acted for RockRose Energy on a reverse takeover involving the acquisition of the North Sea interests of U.S.-based Marathon.
“Ed is a highly respected senior corporate advisor whom I’ve known and admired for years, and I’m thrilled he’s joining our London team. His practice is a strategic addition as we focus on advising Tech, Life Science and Energy companies globally,” said
Chris Grew, head of Orrick's #1 ranked European Venture Capital practice (
Pitchbook).
“Orrick’s platform is a real draw: the firm’s focus on the sectors driving the global economy, its emphasis on building top tier sector-focused practices to support its corporate offering, its collaborative and global approach and its leadership in innovative service delivery are all aligned with where client demand will be in the future,” noted Ed. “I look forward to working with Chris and the London team to build on this platform.”
“Ed’s addition is an exciting step in our London growth strategy,” added
Simon Willis, Orrick’s London Office Leader. “He brings a practice and team approach that is a perfect fit with our strategy and will be valuable both in serving our clients and connecting the firm globally.”
Orrick ranks #3 globally and #1 in Europe for venture capital (
Pitchbook) and #2 globally for M&A by deal count (
Bloomberg) for the first half of 2019. The firm acts for 10 of the
Forbes 25 public tech companies and 2,700+ emerging companies and investors, including 400 life science companies globally. The firm is a five-time winner of
Law360’s Project Finance Group of the Year.
Ed’s addition follows the arrivals of life sciences & tech advisor
Gregg Griner to lead the firm’s Boston Corporate Practice, earlier this month,
Stephen Thau, a former co-chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Life Sciences Group, in Washington, D.C. and tech-focused M&A advisor
Matthew Gemello, former head of Baker & McKenzie’s U.S. corporate practice, in the Bay Area, both earlier this year. Last month, the London office welcomed Hannah Roscoe to its Energy & Infrastructure practice from Herbert Smith Freehills. In January, Orrick launched a Boston office to continue to build its focus on Tech and Life Sciences, and the firm opened its Houston office to serve the E&I market in 2016.