Edward Braham

Advisory Council, Member

Edward was the Senior Partner (Chair) of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, the international law firm, for 5 years from 2016 to 2020. A leading international M&A lawyer, he joined the firm in 1985 and has worked extensively around the world, both on deals for public companies, private equity sponsors and financial institutions, and in leadership roles.
 
As the Senior Partner of the firm, he led the firm’s expansion in the US where, with strong and growing US offices in New York, Washington DC and Silicon Valley, it is now recognised as the leading firm for complex US M&A, litigation, governance and regulatory work, based on its global perspective, local knowledge, and sophisticated advice in any jurisdiction.
 
He also established and led a comprehensive responsible business strategy. This brought together ethics and integrity, culture and diversity, environmental impact, community investment and pro bono into a cohesive sustainability strategy. The firm has been carbon neutral since 2007, an important milestone on the path to net zero. 
 
In July 2021, the firm published A legal framework for impact, which addresses the question “to what extent can – and should – institutional investors use their power and influence to generate a positive sustainability impact?” The report was commissioned by The Generation Foundation, the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI).
 
Edward is Chair of the International Trade and Investment Group of TheCityUK, the private-sector membership body and industry advocacy group promoting the financial and related professional services industry of the United Kingdom, and is on its board. 
 
His extensive interests include wildlife photography.