Fritz Lark, with Mayer Brown

Fritz Lark, an M&A dealmaker who has practiced law at Bracewell since 2012, has moved to the New York offices of Mayer Brown.

Lark advises clients in the financial services, technology, energy, utilities and chemicals sectors on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, equity investments and securities issuances.

Lark was a member of a team of five attorneys that included John Klauberg, Charles Vandenburgh, Catherine McCarthy and David Poe, who fled Dewey & Leboeuf for Bracewell in May 2012 while Dewey was in its death throes and was hemorrhaging lawyers. At the time of the move, McCarthy reportedly said that there was simply too much turmoil at Dewey to maintain a legal practice there.

Lark's hiring comes just weeks after Mayer Brown appointed 45-year-old Matthew Ingber as partner-in-charge of the firm's New York office with a mandate to expand several practice areas of the firm, including M&A.

“I think that Mayer Brown has a great platform and what got me really interested is that they're looking to grow the energy and infrastructure practice at the firm,” Lark said.

The firm's priorities are closely aligned with Lark's sense of where deal flow is strong at the moment.

“I'm seeing a lot of activity, particularly in the infrastructure investment space, and in the utilities space as well. My practice over the last few years has really been focused on those sectors. There's a lot of interest in investing in infrastructure in the U.S.,” Lark said.

Yet another area of Lark's practice is regulatory in nature. In the course of his public company M&A work, Lark frequently advises clients on reporting, disclosure and other compliance matters.

“Having led numerous high-profile M&A deals, Fritz will be instrumental in advising utilities and infrastructure funds on the complicated regulatory overlay that is critical to the success of these transactions,” Phil Brandes, a co-chair of Mayer Brown's corporate and securities practice, said in a statement.

“Fritz was a valued member of the firm. We wish him well in his new endeavors,” said a Bracewell spokesperson.