Erica Handling formerly served as EMEA head of Barclays’ investment arm.
Funds giant BlackRock announced it has hired Erica Handling, the former EMEA general counsel of Barclays’ investment wing. Having left Barclays at the end of March, Handling replaces James DesMarais who retired as general counsel from the funds manager after nine years.
Handling’s exit is widely believed to be a result of Barclays’ efforts to streamline the bank’s legal department as part of an overall restructuring. Several other prominent legal functionaries have also left the investment bank in recent months, including: Joanna Carver, Barclays’ global head of legal for corporate banking, who left the bank around March; managing director of litigation and investigations Jonathan Peddie, who stepped down in March; global GC for corporate and investment banking Judith Shepherd, who is in the process of leaving the bank; and Dave Hart, Barclays’ former head of litigation, who took up his new post as head of litigation at BT last month.
As reported in Legal Week, Handling’s former position at Barclays is currently being filled by Asia-Pacific GC Simon Croxford, who has moved back to London to do the job. He is also currently still filling his Asia role until a successor is appointed.
Ellen Hayes can be reached at ellen.hayes@gcgrapevine.com
