Citi chief political analyst Tina Fordham moves to new boutique law firm Avonhurst
Investment bank Citi’s chief global political analyst Tina Fordham is moving to new boutique law firm Avonhurst as a partner and head of global political strategy, the firm announced today.
The hire is an unusual one as law firms have not traditionally advised their clients on political risk.
Speaking to City PM Fordham said: “It was unusual for Citi to take me on to start political analysis for investors and corporates and I think that firms like Avonhurst – which are law firms for the post-modern era – are the next frontier.”
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She added: “I am very enthusiastic about being able to develop a new range of tools to help these clients decipher and navigate what is going to be a very complex political environment.
“We are looking at the fragmentation of the political landscape, not just in the UK but across Europe.”
Fordham spent 17 years at Citi and prior to that acted as a senior adviser in the UK Prime Minister’s strategy unit and previously launched Eurasia Group’s financial markets business where she was director for global political risk.
Avonhurst is a boutique firm which was launched in July by former Jones Day finance partner Jonathan Bloom.
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Bloom said: “With political uncertainty accelerating, especially in developed markets, and with Brexit and upcoming elections in the UK and US, our client base is seeking guidance in this area more than ever.”
Avonhurst’s initial team included former PwC Legal banking and finance head Laetitia Costa, and former King & Spalding real estate head Nigel Heilpern.
It has since hired Vinson & Elkins finance partner Ian Frost, Linklaters finance lawyer James Wyatt, MJ Hudson partner Emmanuel Amos, VTB Capital head of legal for global fixed income and global equities Marco Crosignani and former Ropes & Gray law firm manager Carolina Daubeney-Bruil.