Firm Celebrates 25 Years in the capital with renewed growth
LONDON, May 5, 2026―Simon Gamblin has joined Duane Morris LLP as partner in the firm’s Corporate Practice Group in its London office. He will lead the firm’s corporate team in London. Gamblin will be joined by special counsel Ben Chalkley and senior associate Daniel Li.
“We have been focused on strategically enhancing our global platform with groups of marquee talent and we are so excited that Simon and his team have joined us in London,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor. “Their sophisticated skills and tremendous experience truly enhance our world-class corporate practice and fit seamlessly into our industry-focused structure. We will continue to recruit top corporate talent to add to our ranks as we advance to the next level for our law firm.”
“We are focused on building capabilities in the transactional space, particularly in international financial centers, including London, New York and Miami,” said Michael C. Hardy, co-chair of Duane Morris’ Corporate Practice Group. “Simon, Ben and Daniel’s practices add significantly to our M&A and corporate finance capabilities, and we’ll continue to focus on high-performing groups as we continue on our ambitious growth journey.”
“The team’s background aligns well with our industry-specific work in in the life sciences, technology, healthcare and education industries, enhancing our position in these rapidly changing sectors,” said Darrick M. Mix, co-chair of Duane Morris’ Corporate Practice Group. “Their client base also tracks nicely with our global footprint, creating natural synergies. We’re excited to have them on board.”
“As we celebrate 25 years in London, our growth momentum is certainly accelerating,” said Nic Hart, managing partner of the firm’s London office. “This team is a brilliant addition to our office, and Simon, Ben and Daniel join us on the heels of gaining a top-tier international disputes team led by Duncan Speller. As we continue to expand in London, we are pleased with this terrific momentum from new marquee talent.”
Simon Gamblin has extensive international and domestic corporate finance experience, including advising on complex public and private mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures (typically with a cross-border element), restructurings, financings (including early-stage), private equity and general corporate/commercial transactions, as well as corporate governance issues. His practice spans many industries including education, life sciences and healthcare, technology, media and renewables. Gamblin regularly speaks at conferences and has most recently spoken at the 3rd Life Science Congress on current M&A trends in the life sciences and healthcare sector in the United Kingdom, and at the IPSEF Global (London) conference on the challenges of establishing new schools in emerging markets.
“Duane Morris offers a highly integrated international platform, and I see a strong opportunity to establish a market-leading corporate practice in London that works seamlessly with the firm’s global offices,” said Gamblin. “My focus will be on supporting cross-border transactions and acting as a key hub for clients investing into and out of the UK and Europe, complementing the firm’s strengths across the United States, Asia-Pacific and beyond. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues across the network to deliver coordinated, high-quality corporate advice to clients operating both domestically and internationally.”
Ben Chalkley advises clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, including private M&A, corporate governance, joint ventures, corporate reorganizations and restructurings.
In addition, Chalkley regularly advises on private equity-focused transactions, acting on the acquisition side in auction sales, acquisitions and portfolio company matters, including ongoing operational and governance inquiries.
Daniel Li advises clients on a range of corporate and commercial matters, including private M&A, corporate governance, corporate reorganizations and general commercial transactions. He has experience acting on domestic and cross-border acquisitions and disposals, as well as advising on general commercial contracts, IPOs and equity capital markets transactions.
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a highly recommended law firm.
