17 Sep 2026
Sullivan & Cromwell adds David Avery-Gee and Sarah Flaherty as partners in London M&A practice
"Sullivan & Cromwell hires partners David Avery-Gee and Sarah Flaherty in London to strengthen its UK, European and global M&A practice."
David Avery-Gee joins S&C as a partner and as Co-Head of the Firm’s European M&A practice alongside Olivier de Vilmorin in Paris. His practice encompasses cross-border public and private M&A, joint ventures, public takeovers, distressed M&A, the corporate aspects of restructurings, and strategic advice to listed company boards. His arrival is described as adding breadth to S&C’s London practice across energy, natural resources, infrastructure (including digital infrastructure), projects, financial institutions and insurance. He is ranked by Chambers UK 2026 for Corporate/M&A £800 million-plus, London, and is a Legal 500 2026 Leading Partner; Financial News named him to its Fifty Most Influential Lawyers in Europe list in 2025 and 2026.
Sarah Flaherty joins S&C as a partner in the London office. Her practice covers international public and private M&A, corporate restructurings, joint ventures and equity offerings, with particular experience in the natural resources, consumer and healthcare sectors. She spent two years on secondment as a senior case officer at the UK Takeover Panel, giving her deep knowledge of the Takeover Code and its practical application, and has worked across the UK, continental Europe, the Middle East and the CIS. She is recognised by Legal 500 2026 as a Next Generation Partner and by Chambers UK 2026 as Up and Coming for Corporate/M&A £800 million-plus, London; Financial News named her a 2023 Rising Star of Legal Services in Europe.