International law firm Bird & Bird continues to deliver on its ambitious growth plans with the hire of Dr. Sebastian Weller, Shahin Foroughian and Matthijs van Leeuwen as partners in its international Corporate Group. Sebastian joined our Düsseldorf office on the 1st, Shahin in Singapore joined on the 5th, and Matthijs will join our Amsterdam office on the 15th of May
The hires follow the four partner promotions into the international Corporate team last week, and brings the number of new partners to 19 in Corporate in the last 18 months internationally.
Matthijs van Leeuwen
Matthijs specialises in transactions in the Energy & Utilities Sector. He has over 15 years’ experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, energy project development, commercial contracting and EU regulatory matters, particularly in renewables, emissions trading, and infrastructure. His expertise spans a wide range of national and international energy projects, including offshore and onshore wind developments, electricity infrastructure, interconnectors, and cutting-edge energy storage solutions.
Matthijs will work closely with the firm’s existing energy team in the Netherlands and support clients with their corporate matters, both domestically and internationally.
Sebastian Weller
Sebastian focuses on corporate, M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions, supporting clients both in Germany and internationally on corporate transactions (including restructuring projects, joint ventures and financing rounds). In particular, he advises large corporate to medium-sized companies, private equity, venture capital funds and start-ups, as well as institutional and strategic investors. His industry focus is on the Life Sciences & Healthcare sector, in which he has been advising national and international companies for many years.
The hire strongly aligns with the firm’s strategic goals to bolster its offering in Life Sciences & Healthcare in Europe and internationally. Sebastian joins alongside senior associate Markus Schönherr, who brings 7 years’ experience in Corporate and M&A.
Shahin Foroughian
Shahin specialises in cross-border M&A, restructurings, joint ventures, strategic alliance arrangements and corporate governance. His work is international in nature, particularly across Southeast Asia and Japan, covering inbound and outbound transactions. He has a particular focus on transactions in the Energy & Utilities and Financial Services sectors. As part of his corporate practice, he also has extensive experience in advising insurers on providing warranty and indemnity insurance to buyers on M&A transactions.
Shahin’s addition will further enhance the firm’s offering to international clients who increasingly operate across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Alberto Salvadè and Matt Bonass, co-heads of Bird & Bird’s international Corporate Group, comment: “We are delighted to welcome Matthijs, Sebastian, and Shahin to Bird & Bird. Their appointments reflect our ambitious growth strategy, building our bench strength across Europe and Asia. Each of them brings distinct expertise across our firm’s key sectors, in particular Energy and Utilities, Life Sciences & Healthcare and Financial Services. Their hires represent further growth for our international Corporate Group which has seen 19 new partners in the last 18 months. We look forward to seeing how their collective experience will enhance our international Corporate team, helping drive future growth for the firm and creating new opportunities for our clients around the world.”
Matthijs adds: “Bird & Bird’s international reputation in the Energy & Utilities Group and its collegiate approach provide an ideal platform to continue supporting clients on the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition. I am excited to join such a dynamic team and look forward to working with colleagues across the firm to deliver innovative solutions for clients in this rapidly evolving sector.”
Sebastian comments: “Bird & Bird's international full-service approach, sector focus and already outstanding reputation in the life sciences and healthcare sector offers me the perfect platform to provide optimal support to my clients and future clients in their transactions and projects. Markus Schönherr and I are very much looking forward to working together and expanding the practice with our new colleagues in Germany and internationally.”
Shahin said: “I’m delighted to be joining Bird & Bird. I’m excited by both the momentum behind the growing Corporate team and the increasing opportunities that we are seeing in Singapore both as a great market for M&A as well as a gateway to deals across Southeast Asia and the wider region. I’m looking forward to supporting clients on their complex, cross-border transactions with the support of the international Bird & Bird team behind me.”
