SJ Berwin has hired Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) CIS group head Alex Woodfield in a boost for its corporate team.

Woodfield, who founded FFW's 12-lawyer CIS group, works mainly for clients in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

He joined FFW as a partner in 2005 from Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham, the legacy arm of K&L Gates. Prior to his stint at Kirkpatrick, Woodfield worked at Thomas Cooper & Stibbard.

He has particular experience in energy and natural resources M&A and capital markets deals for CIS clients. He has previously acted for oil producer JSC KazMunaiGas Exploration Production and Kazakh national welfare fund Samruk-Kazyna.

Notably, Woodfield led the team advising Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov on his purchase of a stake in Arsenal Football Club in 2007, when he represented investment company Red & White Holdings on its £75m acquisition of a 14.6% stake in the club from former vice-chairman David Dein. The deal made Red & White the third-largest shareholder in the club.

Woodfield said: "SJ Berwin has very strong corporate and litigation practices, and it has significant CIS business. Part of what drew me to the firm is that it believes in growing the practice without necessarily having offices in the region – I have a strong network without needing an on-the-ground base, so our ideas fit together well."

Earlier this year SJ Berwin boosted its London corporate team with the hire of former Herbert Smith partner Chris Fanner.

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