Shearman & Sterling strengthened its M&A and corporate practices—including public and private M&A, private equity, capital markets and corporate governance with the addition of Rob Masella, who joins the firm as a partner in the New York office.

Masella comes to Shearman & Sterling from Clifford Chance, where he was a corporate partner covering M&A, private equity transactions and corporate governance matters. He also represented investment banks in connection with fairness opinions and other transactions. Masella also advises a number of West Coast technology clients on corporate matters.

Prior to joining Clifford Chance, Masella was a managing director in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he advised companies on a broad array of corporate transactions. Prior to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Masella was with Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

Masella’s transactional work focuses on public and private mergers and acquisitions, cross-border transactions, PIPEs, debt and equity investments and offerings, recapitalizations, joint ventures, divestitures, spin-offs and other forms of corporate transactions. His corporate governance practice includes advising clients on shareholder activism, corporate governance and fiduciary duty matters, disclosure obligations, conflicts-of-interest, regulatory investigations and compliance matters.

“Rob is a great addition to our New York M&A group and to our M&A and corporate teams broadly,” said Creighton Condon, the firm’s senior partner. “He is regarded as an exceptional M&A lawyer and broad legal advisor by his clients.”

George Casey, global head of the firm’s M&A group, added, “We know our clients will be happy to see a partner of Rob’s stature join the firm. We expect him to make an immediate impact in New York, and his West Coast technology work will dovetail nicely with our strong M&A and corporate capabilities in the Bay Area.”

“Shearman & Sterling’s US and global platforms are a natural fit for my M&A and corporate practices,” Masella said. “Shearman & Sterling has a reputation for excellence, and I look forward to introducing my clients to my new partners and to the firm’s capabilities.”