Davis Polk & Wardwell is enhancing its investment management practice by bringing on board three notable partners from Debevoise & Plimpton. The firm announced on Tuesday that Andrew Ahern, Alisa Waxman, and Luke Eldridge will join its New York office as partners.
Davis Polk, renowned for clients such as Morgan Stanley, ExxonMobil, and Meta Platforms, Inc., prioritizes lateral hiring in pivotal regions and practices. The addition of Ahern, Waxman, and Eldridge aligns with its strategic goal to bolster its asset management capabilities. Neil Barr, Davis Polk’s managing partner, referred to the recruitment as “a transformative development” that significantly enhances the firm’s capacity to serve clients.
Ahern, who spent nearly 20 years at Debevoise, brings extensive experience advising sponsors of private investment funds across sectors including buyout, energy, infrastructure, and venture capital. Waxman, with nearly 13 years at Debevoise, specializes in advising sponsors of private investment funds, co-investment funds, and complex secondaries. Eldridge, who was made partner at Debevoise in 2023, focuses on private investment funds, co-investment vehicles, and separately managed accounts.
Leor Landa, head of Davis Polk’s investment management practice, emphasized the importance of the new hires, citing their robust market reputations and comprehensive sector knowledge as critical components for the firm’s growth strategy.
A representative from Debevoise acknowledged the departure while noting that its global funds team has significantly expanded over the past five years, ensuring continued strong performance and client service delivery.
For additional context, Davis Polk has prioritized lateral hiring in recent years, bringing in other significant figures such as Gordon Milne, previously of A&O Shearman, and Chris Healey from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, underpinning its aggressive expansion in key practice areas and geographies.