Sebastian Rice, the Partner-in-Charge of Akin’s London office, is set to depart the firm to assume the role of General Counsel at VEON Ltd., a global digital operator headquartered in Dubai. This transition is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. Rice’s move follows a 24-year tenure at Akin, during which he held significant positions, including leadership of the firm’s London and Geneva offices and co-head of the Corporate Practice. His extensive experience encompasses corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance. At VEON, Rice will succeed Acting General Counsel Vitaly Shmakov, who has been appointed as Chief Investment Officer to lead the company’s mergers and acquisitions function. VEON’s CEO, Kaan Terzioğlu, highlighted that these leadership changes are integral to the company’s ongoing transformation into a digital operator and its growth strategy from its Dubai base. ([stocktitan.net](https://www.stocktitan.net/news/VEON/veon-appoints-sebastian-rice-as-general-im31ip5bsux3.html?utm_source=openai))
Rice’s departure marks a significant shift for Akin’s London office, which has recently experienced notable changes in its leadership and team composition. In September 2024, the firm bolstered its technology and healthcare transactions practice by adding a three-partner team from Cooley. This team, led by Justin Stock, who joined as the international head of the technology practice, brought substantial expertise in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture investments. Stock’s arrival was seen as a strategic enhancement to Akin’s global corporate platform, particularly in high-growth sectors such as technology and life sciences. ([akingump.com](https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-adds-leading-three-partner-team-in-london-to-build-global-technology-and-health-care-transactions-practice?utm_source=openai))
The London office has also been active in other areas, including the rehire of Kevin Gilroy in February 2025 to deepen its finance offerings. Gilroy’s return was aimed at strengthening the firm’s capabilities in complex financial transactions and restructuring. ([akingump.com](https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-deepens-finance-offering-with-rehire-of-kevin-gilroy-in-london?utm_source=openai))
As Akin navigates these leadership transitions, the firm continues to focus on expanding its presence in key markets. The recent addition of a three-partner team in London underscores its commitment to enhancing its global technology and healthcare transactions practice. ([akingump.com](https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-adds-leading-three-partner-team-in-london-to-build-global-technology-and-health-care-transactions-practice?utm_source=openai))
Rice’s move to VEON reflects a broader trend of seasoned legal professionals transitioning from private practice to in-house roles within the technology sector, highlighting the evolving dynamics of legal leadership in the industry.