As reported by The American Lawyer yesterday (25 August), Roppel’s departure is unrelated to news of 96 lawyer redundancies affecting the Cadwalader’s capital markets and finance groups.

However, he is the first significant partner defection from the firm since the layoffs were announced late last month.

Roppel joined Cadwalader’s New York corporate practice in 2005 from Shearman & Sterling’s New York mergers and acquisitions department, transferring to Beijing in 2006.


The firm is currently discussing options for the Beijing outpost, which will not house any partners after Roppel departs. However a spokesperson said the firm will not be closing the office which has five associates.