A message from our alumni partner sponsors
Sarah James and Jonathan Hammond
It’s our pleasure to introduce this new biannual publication for alumni.
Simmons attracts dynamic, ambitious and talented people internationally. Added to that our people are kind, generous, collaborative and fun! We’re both passionate about being partner sponsors of the alumni network. Personally, both of our professional lives have been enriched by colleagues past and present during our time at Simmons. Many of whom we count as friends.
We’ve been excited, inspired and moved by the stories from the alumni community in this edition. They’re just a few examples of the innovation and brilliance in the alumni network. We’re also proud to share a few of the firm’s recent successes with you. Deals won, awards celebrated and achievements. You can also see how our values as a responsible business are reflected through activities that create a positive impact for our clients, people and planet.
We hope that this newsletter will provide a platform where we can come together to celebrate alumni and firm successes, keep you informed, and learn from each other. Go ahead and explore.
Featured
In this edition we dig deeper into perspectives on life and what we do with it.
Download our podcast episode featuring Christina - An intimate conversation on the power of curiosity, confidence and connection. Listen on your train journey, your run, or wherever you can find a quiet personal space. It’s one to savour.
Read about how a passion for food and its production inspired Marcus to leave private practice and return to study. Discover how Lucy found her fit and Pascal became an entrepreneur in two experiences of changing career paths. Watch Kevin talk about why he supports unconventional start-up founders who may be neglected in the mainstream.
The 360 Podcast - Christina Boey
From Simmons solicitor to Executive Director and Assistant General Counsel at JP Morgan Chase & Co. to virtual reality: Christina Boey describes her varied career journey to Sophia Adams Bhatti (Head of Purpose and Impact at Simmons & Simmons) in a lively discussion on curiosity and finding your place.
Food for thought - Marcus Prozesky
Marcus Prozesky joined Simmons as an associate in Capital Markets in the Amsterdam office, advising a range of investment banking and corporate clients on multi-jurisdictional debt and equity transactions from 2015 to 2018. South African born and raised, he was inspired to change focus and left Simmons to complete the INSEAD MBA programme. After graduation, he switched careers to investment banking and joined Rabobank’s M&A advisory team focused on agriculture technology.
“The challenge is vast, but there’s a lot of smart people working to get us to a place where there’s enough healthy food for everyone produced in a sustainable way.”
Managing things well - Lucy Lambert
Lucy Lambert spent 23 years with Simmons & Simmons, over two periods, from 1984 to 1993, and then from 1994 to 2008. She started as a secretary, progressed to IT training and then business analyst and project manager.
Since leaving the firm, she has -managed a range of fascinating projects for law firms and banks.
“I left school at 16. I was desperate to leave because I wanted to earn as much money as possible to get a house with double garage and room for a pony! I thought I was not going to get that going to uni."
No code for success - Pascal Di Prima
Pascal Di Prima, is a lawyer turned entrepreneur. He was a partner and then of counsel with Simmons & Simmons in Germany from 2014 to 2018, before switching to start his own legaltech business, Lexemo.
"I was always impressed by the work of Charlotte Stalin and Penny Miller. I was also inspired by Angus McLean as he was working very closely with start-ups, and this influenced me definitely to found my own start-up."
News
We bring you a taste of all the news at the firm and among the Simmons community (alumni and staff) over recent months. It’s an example of the excellence at the firm that makes us proud, and we think will make you a proud alum too.
Read on, and if you’d like to share your news for future editions, please tell us what your achievements are so the entire Simmons community can join in congratulating you.
Long service farewell
Simon Watson - General Counsel
We bid a fond farewell to Simon Watson, General Counsel at Simmons who is retiring in April. Simon joined the firm as an articled clerk (now trainee solicitor) in 1981 and grew his career here. He rose to partner and became the UK and international practice group head for the Employment, Pensions and Incentives team. He was appointed as the first General Counsel for Simmons in May 2016.
Sarah Pauwels - Finance and Office Manager
We also say farewell to Sarah Pauwels, Finance and Office Manager in the Brussels office who is also retiring on 1 May. Sarah joined the firm in 1998, 25 years ago and has been a stalwart in the Brussels office covering Finance, HR and more. She will be greatly missed and we wish her the best in her retirement.
People news
Colin Passmore
Former Senior Partner became chair of the City of London Law Society in January 2023.
Marcin Perzanowski
Managing Associate in Structured Finance & Derivatives was a consulting editor on the fourth edition of the popular practitioner textbook Practical Derivatives: A Transactional Approach. Other SFD contributors were Oliver West, Rosali Pretorius, Tom Harkus, Igor Zyskind, Harmed Pouzadeh, Oliver Ward and Alumnus Fausto Giacomet.
Alumna Esi Eshun
Was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2022 for services to Corporate Law and Compliance.
Denise Thomas
A Secretarial Coordinator in the London office published a book in 2022 called “Me, my dad and Parkinson’s: Dealing with the Inevitable” sharing her personal experiences.
A few highlights from the firm
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