Deutsche Bank has appointed Ed King, a veteran dealmaker with deep roots in London’s magic circle law firms and bulge-bracket investment banking, as **Vice Chair of Global M&A**, signaling a strategic push to capture rising **cross-border M&A trends in 2026** amid intensifying competition for top talent in investment banking.
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Ed King’s Proven Track Record in High-Stakes Dealmaking
Ed King joins from a high-profile stint at Morgan Stanley, where he served as **chair of UK investment banking** since 2016. Prior to that, King was a **corporate partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer**, including a tenure as London head, honing expertise in complex **private equity exit strategies** and **cross-border M&A transactions**[1]. His move underscores Deutsche Bank’s ambition to strengthen its **European M&A advisory bench** at a time when global deal volumes are rebounding, driven by private equity dry powder exceeding $3 trillion and pent-up demand in tech, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors, per McKinsey’s 2025 Global Private Markets Review.
Talent Wars Heat Up: A Broader Talent Migration in Finance and Legal
King’s hire mirrors aggressive lateral moves reshaping **investment banking leadership** and legal advisory landscapes. Just this week, Latham & Watkins poached three partners from A&O Shearman, including global real estate finance head David Oppenheimer and structured finance expert Lucy, bolstering its **private capital practice** for high-value transactions involving **private equity firms** and investment banks[1]. Latham’s London managing partner Ed Barnett highlighted the additions as enhancing capabilities for “complex, high-value transactions,” a direct parallel to King’s expected impact on Deutsche Bank’s **global M&A platform**.
A&O Shearman has seen over 170 partner exits since its 2023 merger, prompting counter-hires like Skadden’s Louise Batty and Weil’s Pierre BrulĂ©, yet underscoring churn in elite advisory talent[1]. Bain & Company’s 2025 M&A Report notes such mobility accelerates as firms vie for mandates in **AI-driven M&A** and **sustainability-linked deals**, with boutiques and bulge-bracket banks alike targeting ex-lawyer bankers for hybrid legal-financial acumen.
| Firm | Hire | From | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bank | Ed King | Morgan Stanley | Global M&A Vice Chair |
| Latham & Watkins | David Oppenheimer et al. | A&O Shearman | Real Estate & Structured Finance |
| A&O Shearman | Louise Batty | Skadden | Executive Compensation |
Implications for C-Suite and Deal Advisors
For **C-level executives** navigating **2026 M&A outlooks**, King’s appointment positions Deutsche Bank to lead on **FIG investment banking deals**—financial institutions group transactions known for robust deal flow, technical rigor, and in-house M&A execution, as evidenced by strong activity in fintech and asset management[2]. Goldman Sachs and KKR insights from 2025 forums emphasize FIG’s appeal for broader valuation skills, including EBITDA multiples tailored to banks and insurers, amid rising **regulatory risks in cross-border deals**.
- Strategic Synergies: King’s Freshfields pedigree enhances Deutsche’s edge in **legal-intensive M&A**, critical for PE sponsors eyeing Europe-US bridges.
- Market Timing: With BCG forecasting 15% M&A growth in 2026, hires like this signal banks gearing for **private equity portfolio optimizations** post-rate cuts.
- Risk Considerations: Heightened scrutiny from antitrust regulators (e.g., EU’s DMA) demands rainmakers with King’s cross-practice experience.
Kirkland & Ellis partners, in recent webinars, advise clients to leverage such banker shifts for competitive mandates, predicting accelerated **SaaS M&A consolidation** and **infra PE exits**. As talent flows intensify, deal advisors should monitor how King’s integration drives Deutsche’s pipeline in high-conviction sectors.
Sources
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https://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/?sfid=47416&_sf_s=freshfields, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/why-should-i-work-in-fig-investment-banking, https://www.ecshipping.net, https://www.rebootcommunications.com/event/vipss2026/, https://www.mondaq.com
