The New York-based co-head of Canadian firm Blake, Cassels & Graydon’s private equity group is jumping to rival Stikeman Elliott to bolster its cross-border transactional practice.

Jamie Koumanakos will play a strategic leadership role in Stikeman’s New York office along with Ken Ottenbreit, who has been managing the Manhattan hub for more than 20 years, Stikemans said.