Squire Patton Boggs has hired private investment specialist Steven Ward from Paul Hastings to spearhead its new funds practice in London.  

Ward, who joins the firm as a partner, is set to lead Squire’s development of its new funds practice in a bid to expand its financial services capabilities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  

He will be tasked with driving the new funds practice forward in order to complement the firm’s current transactional support and investment expertise for its client base across multiple sectors, focusing on the fundraising and ongoing advising of real estate, private equity, venture capital and debt funds.  

Ward focuses his practice on all aspects of the formation, operation and regulation of private investment funds and their operators, with particular expertise in advising sponsors on the regulatory implications and requirements of global fundraising campaigns. He has experience acting for sponsors, investors, lenders and placement agents in matters related to fund formation, investment and regulatory compliance. 

Prior to his three-year stint at Paul Hastings, Ward worked as a private investment funds associate at US rival Latham & Watkins.  

Ward’s recent work includes advising one of the first hedge funds launched in Abu Dhabi’s financial center, Abu Dhabi Global Markets, under its new fund regime.  

James Barresi, global leader of Squire’s financial services practice group, said Ward’s appointment was “another step” in its plan to “broaden and strengthen” its financial service practice in the EMEA region.  

He added: “Recently, we have added to our team several highly accomplished partners who have dramatically expanded the service we provide to specialised lenders and alternative capital sources, such as private equity and debt funds. A multipurpose funds team will further expand our capabilities and help maintain our strong momentum.” 

The move comes a week after the Cleveland-headquartered firm made a number of lateral hires to its financial services practice from Gowling WLG, adding partner Jonathan Lent and associate duo Beatrice Sidi and Andrea Zemenides to boost its real estate finance capabilities in London.  

Elsewhere, the firm hired partner Kate Sherrard along with a senior associate from Clifford Chance in Singapore to boost its commodities and shipping practice in January. More recently, Squire onboarded former Thompson Hine corporate transaction and securities lawyer Jennifer Val as of counsel in New York in May.