Freeths has recruited Zum Mohammed from Gateley Plc, where she led the London corporate team, in a move that signals the firm’s ambitions in the capital’s competitive mid-market private equity space.
The February appointment marks a direct raid on a rival’s leadership bench. Mohammed brings a practice built around advising private equity sponsors, family offices and their portfolio companies on M&A transactions, joint ventures and corporate restructurings—precisely the deal flow Freeths wants to capture.
For Gateley, the departure creates a vacancy at the top of its London corporate operation.
Tom Rowley, who heads Freeths’ London corporate practice, made clear the strategic intent behind the hire. “Zum is an exceptional lawyer whose experience and approach align perfectly with the strategic direction and culture of our growing team,” he said. “Her appointment reinforces our commitment to building a leading mid-market private equity offering in London as a key part of our already strong national practice and ensuring we continue to deliver the highest level of service to our clients. We’re delighted to welcome her to the partnership.”
The recruitment follows 18 months of sustained momentum for Freeths’ London corporate team, driven by what the firm describes as a strong transaction pipeline and a deliberate strategy to expand its presence in the capital. That growth has been fuelled by lateral hires, an expanding client roster, and a run of industry recognition that includes Law Firm of the Year titles at both the City AM Awards 2025 and the Legal Business Awards 2024.
Mohammed’s practice centres on domestic and cross-border M&A and private equity deals. She regularly acts for well-known mid-market sponsors on platform acquisitions, bolt-on transactions and exits—work that positions her squarely within Freeths’ target market.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Freeths at such an exciting moment for the Firm,” Mohammed said. “The London Corporate team has built an outstanding reputation for high-quality work, commercial insight, and a genuinely collaborative and dynamic culture. I’m looking forward to contributing to the next phase of growth and supporting our clients as they navigate increasingly complex and fast-moving markets.”
The hire reflects broader competition among mid-tier firms to capture private equity work in London, where sponsors increasingly look beyond magic circle firms for deals that don’t justify top-tier rates. Freeths’ national corporate practice has scaled alongside its London expansion, supported by multiple partner appointments across its offices.
The firm’s recent accolades extend beyond its corporate practice. Freeths secured widespread recognition for its landmark High Court victory representing 555 sub-postmasters against the Post Office, a case that exposed one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in British legal history. The firm continues to advise on subsequent compensation schemes.
As a certified B Corporation, Freeths has positioned itself as a challenger brand that combines commercial firepower with commitments to environmental and social impact—credentials that include Diversity Champion status from Stonewall, Gold accreditation from Investors in People as of this year, and a place in the Legal 500 Green Guide 2026.
The firm’s client base includes Centrica, ENGIE, Aldi, Mercedes-Benz UK, Tarmac, Experian and Lloyds Bank—a roster that spans private equity-backed businesses, family offices and listed corporates.
For Mohammed, the move represents a shift from heading a team at an established London player to joining a firm that has been building its capital presence aggressively. For Freeths, it’s another statement of intent in a market where talent captures matter as much as deal wins.
Whether the appointment translates into measurable market share gains will depend on Mohammed’s ability to bring relationships and mandates with her—and on Freeths’ capacity to support the kind of complex, cross-border transactions that define the mid-market private equity space she operates in.
What’s certain is that Gateley now faces the task of replacing a team head, whilst Freeths gains a partner with established sponsor relationships at a moment when private equity deal flow is recovering after a subdued 2023 and early 2024.
The timing matters. Mid-market PE activity has picked up in recent months as financing conditions stabilise and sponsors look to deploy capital that’s been sitting idle. Firms that can demonstrate both technical capability and commercial agility stand to benefit.
Freeths’ leadership clearly believes Mohammed brings both.
