Blank Rome adds four senior lawyers from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader to its New York bench. The move deepens the firm’s platform in commodities trading and structured finance, sectors where New York remains the global clearinghouse for energy and financial mandates.
The Talent Shift
Two partners and two senior counsels announced their departure from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader on Tuesday to join Blank Rome in New York. Partner Christopher J. Doyle transferred to the corporate, M&A and securities group. Partner Marvin J. Goldstein and counsels Richard L. Fried and Mark A. Speiser moved into the finance, restructuring and bankruptcy group. The four-lawyer cohort brings extensive experience advising clients in financial services and energy industries, according to the firm’s announcement.
New York’s Role in Energy and Finance
New York serves as the global hub for complex energy and financial transactions. The city’s markets determine pricing for commodities, structured finance products, and carbon instruments that move across borders. Blank Rome’s expansion into these practice areas signals the firm’s intent to capture high-value mandates in a market where deal flow is concentrated among a small number of elite firms. The team’s arrival strengthens Blank Rome’s capabilities in commodities trading, structured finance, energy transactions, and mergers and acquisitions, areas where the firm previously had a smaller presence.
What the Numbers Show
The firm, founded in 1946, now employs 800 attorneys across 16 offices. The addition of four senior lawyers represents a targeted infusion of talent rather than a broad hiring spree. Blank Rome’s chair and managing partner, Grant S. Palmer, described the move as a commitment to strategic growth. Peter Schnur, partner and co-chair of the corporate, M&A and securities group, noted that the new hires’ skill sets complement and strengthen the firm’s existing platform. The team collectively represents commodity merchants, traders, and the institutions that finance them, spanning large-scale borrowing base revolvers, structured financings, and innovative deals involving renewable energy, carbon capture, and environmental credits.
Competition Intensifies
Elite firms compete fiercely to capture mandates in the specialized intersection of commodities, energy, and finance. Blank Rome’s poaching of the Hogan Lovells Cadwalader team underscores the depth of competition in this niche. Marvin J. Goldstein, who advises on renewable energy sources, hydrogen, carbon capture, and environmental credits, cited the firm’s depth and talent as key factors in his decision. Christopher J. Doyle highlighted Blank Rome’s nationally recognized platform and collaborative approach as an environment well-suited for expanding his finance and transactional practice. The move reflects a broader trend of law firms fortifying their ranks to serve the complex regulatory and transactional needs of the energy and finance sectors.
Strategic Expansion of Energy Transition Practice
The acquisition of the Hogan Lovells Cadwalader team specifically targets growth in energy transition work, a sector where demand is increasing globally. Marvin J. Goldstein concentrates on commodities and derivatives law while advising market participants on structuring transactions involving renewable energy sources, hydrogen, carbon capture, and environmental credits and allowances. His experience spans physical commodity trades, traditional and bespoke financing structures, intermediations in energy and metals, swaps, options, and derivatives across asset classes ranging from energy and metals to agricultural commodities and financial instruments.
This expansion enhances Blank Rome’s ability to serve clients at the intersection of commodities, energy, and finance. The firm now possesses deeper capabilities in areas of growing demand, including energy transition and environmental markets. Together, Goldstein, Doyle, Fried, and Speiser bring a formidable commodities trading and finance practice that supports growth in mergers and acquisitions, structured finance, restructuring, and creditors’ rights in the energy sector.
Peter Schnur noted that the new hires’ experience across commodity trading, energy finance, structured finance, restructuring, M&A, and capital markets enables the firm to provide clients with an even broader range of services. Grant S. Palmer stated that their addition reflects a commitment to strategic growth and to providing clients with sophisticated counsel in an increasingly complex business environment. The team collectively represents commodity merchants, traders, and the institutions that finance them across a range of transactions.
Individual Expertise and Recognition
The newly joined team members possess distinct backgrounds that bolster Blank Rome’s standing in the energy and finance sectors. Marvin J. Goldstein focuses on commodities and derivatives law, advising market participants on structuring transactions involving renewable energy sources, hydrogen, carbon capture, and environmental credits. His experience spans physical commodity trades, traditional and bespoke financing structures, intermediations in energy and metals, swaps, options, and derivatives across asset classes ranging from energy and metals to agricultural commodities and financial instruments.
Goldstein earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude, and his B.A. from Yeshiva University, summa cum laude. He is admitted to practice in New York and is recognized in Chambers USA, Chambers Global, IFLR1000, The Legal 500 United States, and Best Lawyers in America. Christopher J. Doyle has a broad corporate and finance practice with a particular focus on M&A as well as private securities offerings and debt financings. He also handles venture capital and private capital work for startups.
In the commodities and energy sectors, Doyle has extensive experience negotiating structured transactions and financings involving commodities and energy, including transactions relating to renewable and conventional energy, infrastructure and related asset classes. He has advised on some of the most complex and market-leading commodities and energy financings and transactions in the space. Doyle earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and his B.A. from Trinity College. Admitted to practice in New York, he is a member of the New York State Bar Association, and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
Chris also serves as board president of Voice Charter School in New York. Richard L. Fried concentrates his practice on structured finance, securities, commodity financing and general corporate matters. He advises issuers, underwriters and agents on structured finance transactions, including registered and non-registered domestic and foreign securitizations. Mark A. Speiser joined the finance, restructuring and bankruptcy group to support these efforts.
Sources
- Blank Rome
- 4-Lawyer Commodities, Finance Team Jumps From Hogan Lovells Cadwalader to Blank Rome in NYC | Law.com
- Blank Rome Welcomes Commodities Trading and Finance Team in New York – ABF Journal
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
