Pinsent Masons announces double corporate partner hire to London capital markets team

Nicholas will head up Pinsent Masons’ equity capital markets (ECM) practice and Dinesh will lead the firm’s US Securities practice. The two partners’ complimentary skillsets will enable Pinsent Masons to capitalise on the expected capital markets upswing in 2026.  

Nicholas led Ashurst’s ECM practice for many years. Joining the firm in 2005, he was instrumental in turning the practice into one of the City’s best. At Pinsent Masons, Nicholas will continue to focus on delivering significant ECM mandates for leading international investment banks.  

Dinesh has been a senior member of the Herbert Smith Freehill Kramer’s global capital markets practice since 2010, following six years at Sullivan & Cromwell. His wide-ranging US securities law expertise spans both equity and debt capital markets, meaning that, in addition to working closely with Nicholas on IPOs, placings, rights issues and related ECM matters, he’s also ideally positioned to advise Pinsent Masons’ banking and finance teams on those US securities law aspects of bond offerings, securitisation transactions and other international finance mandates.  

Edward Stead, partner and head of Pinsent Masons’ UK corporate practice, said, “I’m delighted that Dinesh and Nicholas are joining Pinsent Masons. Both have stellar reputations within their respective fields and their joining us will further strengthen our ability to deliver larger, complex equity capital markets and public company advisory mandates.  

“We believe that the UK’s capital markets have reached a turning point when it comes to new fundraisings and significant private capital placements. Our continued investment in our City corporate team means we’re ready to help our clients capitalise on what’s next as the markets gathers pace.” 

Nicholas added, “It’s a hugely exciting time for the UK’s capital markets, with corporate finance advisers increasingly confident about the businesses they plan to help IPO. I’m thrilled to have joined a firm with such a presence in equity capital markets work and I feel Pinsent Masons is the right place for me when it comes to turning this positive sentiment into concrete returns for clients.”  

Dinesh highlighted, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Pinsent Masons, a firm with a clear ambition to expand its UK and global capital markets practices. Now more than ever, Pinsent Masons’ clients require in-depth US securities and corporate finance expertise as they navigate fundraising opportunities from US investors in the public and private financial markets.” 

Pinsent Masons continues to invest heavily in its corporate practice and Dinesh and Nicholas’ hires follow that of M&A partners Richard Thomas, Mark Hough, Rob Warren last month. September also saw the arrival of pensions partner Dan Naylor and restructuring and insolvency partner Edward Smith, both from Travers Smith to the firm’s City headquarters. In the same month, the firm launched its new due diligence solution, Portana, to accelerate its delivery of significant M&A transactions.