Linklaters is pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas A. McGrath as U.S. Global Practice Head. He succeeds Tom Shropshire, who will be leaving the partnership after more than two decades with the firm. The appointment is effective immediately for a four-year term.

In his new role, Tom will be responsible driving growth in the U.S. and globally to enhance the firm’s pre-eminent cross-border practice. He will be a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee.

Tom joined Linklaters in 2005 as a partner in New York. Since that time, he has served as head of Linklaters’ U.S. Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group. He has been a member of the Firm’s Partnership Board, and is co-head of the firm’s Global Healthcare Group. Tom advises U.S. and international clients on the antitrust aspects of multinational merger clearances and defends clients in criminal price-fixing investigations and private antitrust litigation.

He has acted for clients on some of the world’s most complex and high-profile transactions which include advising Linde AG on its US$90bn global merger of equals with Praxair Inc. creating the world’s largest industrial gas supplier; Novartis on its transformational transactions with GlaxoSmithKline; and Takeda in relation to its US$62bn offer for Shire plc, which was the largest ever outbound M&A deal by a Japanese company. Tom will continue to advise clients and retain his current client work in addition to his new leadership role.

Commenting on Tom’s appointment, Linklaters’ Firmwide Managing Partner Gideon Moore, said:

“I am delighted to have Tom step into this role. I know he will do a great job ensuring we continue to build and retain a best-in-class Global U.S. Practice.”

Partner Thomas McGrath, incoming U.S. Global Practice Head, added:

“I am honored to have been selected for this role at such an exciting time for our U.S. practice. I look forward to expanding upon the successes of my predecessor and contributing to the continued success of the firm.”