Hogan Lovells announces global leadership changes

Following a 34-year tenure at the firm, partner and Capital Markets Practice Area Lead Eve Howard has stepped down from her partnership and leadership roles, with partners John Beckman and Julian Craughan continuing in their joint role as heads of Capital Markets, Americas and International, respectively. 

Greg Noonan was named Office Managing Partner (OMP) in Boston, assuming the role from Maria Durant, and Kristin Connarn was named Office Administrative Partner (OAP) in Boston. Additionally, Jessica Bisignano was named OAP in Philadelphia. 

Victor de Vlaam was named OMP in Amsterdam, assuming the role from Manon Cordewener.

‘The firm also announced that Georgy Kalashnikov, currently based in London, has been named head of the firm’s Middle East region.

“We are very happy to welcome these individuals to the firm’s leadership team,” said CEO Miguel Zaldivar. “They reflect the core values of our firm – putting clients at the center of everything we do, fostering an ambitious and supportive culture, and delivering on our commitments to investing in our people. I would also like to thank the leaders stepping down for their contributions to the firm.”  

Corporate & Finance 

After 34 years at Hogan Lovells, Eve Howard has stepped down from the partnership and her role as head of the Capital Markets practice. She will remain with the firm as senior counsel and continue to be actively involved in a number of important firm initiatives, including leading integration efforts for a team of lawyers who have joined from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, as well as fostering diversity efforts within the firm and the C&F practice. 

Howard joined the firm  in 1989 and ascended to the partnership in 1996, with a focus on capital markets, particularly debt capital markets. She has been involved in virtually every significant U.S. debt capital markets issuance over the past 20 years, and is primarily responsible for creating the firm’s U.S. debt capital markets practice, representing clients such as Apple, the Government of The Bahamas, Elevance, Colgate-Palmolive, and Bristol Myers Squibb.

From 2016 to 2020, Howard served on the firm’s International Management Committee (IMC) as Regional Managing Partner of the Washington Region, while simultaneously serving as the OMP in Washington D.C. Howard has served as the Global Head of the firm’s Capital Markets practice and a member of the Global C&F leadership team since 2020.

Beckman and Craughan will continue in their roles as dual heads of the Capital Markets practice, Americas and International, respectively; they will work closely to continue delivering on the practice’s strategic growth. Additionally, partners Kelly Hardy and Megan Ridley-Kaye will join the Global C&F leadership team; Hardy joins as an ‘at-large’ member, while Ridley-Kaye joins as an ‘under-45’ member. 

Boston 

Noonan joined the firm’s Boston office as an Investigations, White Collar and Fraud (IWCF) partner in 2017, serving as the office's Litigation, Arbitration and Employment (LAE) group manager from 2017 to 2023 and becoming Boston OAP in 2020. A Boston and San Diego Assistant U.S. Attorney before his return to private practice, Noonan’s broad experience with white-collar criminal and civil investigations and cases has strengthened the firm's capabilities in this area, particularly in the Life Sciences sector. Noonan is also a member of the Americas Diversity Committee and co-leads the firm's LGBTQ+ Affinity group.

He assumes the role from Maria Durant, who joined Hogan Lovells as a partner in 2017. Durant was named Boston OMP in 2020, playing a crucial role in guiding the firm’s Boston office through the pandemic; she has been instrumental in the office’s rapid and successful growth. Durant will continue to focus on internal and government investigations and complex civil disputes, and will remain a member of the firm’s Life Sciences Leadership Team.

Connarn, who assumes the role of Boston OAP, joined Hogan Lovells in 2019. With an extensive background in biotechnology and cancer research, Connarn navigates the complex landscape of legal protections and finding innovative solutions for clients. She continues to serve as a member of the Hogan Lovells Life Sciences Leadership Team, and co-chair of the Cell, Tissue, and Gene Therapy (CTGT) working group. 

Philadelphia 

Bisignano, who joined Hogan Lovells as a senior associate in 2016 and became an M&A partner in 2021, leads a variety of complex transactions for clients, particularly in the Life Sciences industry. In addition to her M&A practice, she serves as a recruiting partner for the firm’s Philadelphia office and as a co-chair of Philly IDEAL, bringing a passion for fostering an inclusive workplace.

Amsterdam 

M&A partner Victor de Vlaam assumes the role of OMP in Amsterdam, succeeding Manon Cordewener. De Vlaam advises clients in the financial institutions, insurance, technology, semi-conductor, life sciences, and industrial sectors on M&A and private equity transactions in the Netherlands and across Europe. Cordewener will continue at the firm, helping to develop the Amsterdam Litigation practice. In addition, she will continue supporting legal technology initiatives, working closely with the firm’s legal tech brand ELTEMATE to bolster the firm’s digital transformation efforts.