Blackstone appoints chief legal officer

by Richard Kilner

Story link: Blackstone appoints chief legal officer

The Blackstone Group has announced the appointment of John G. Finley as a senior managing director and chief legal officer.

Finley, who takes up his new post with effect from 1 September, presently serves as a partner with law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and will succeed Robert L. Friedman, who will remain with Blackstone for a period before retiring.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen A. Schwarzman has described Finley as an outstanding corporate lawyer and expressed his delight that he would soon be joining the firm.

Schwarzman went on to praise Finley’s experience, leadership skills and reputation for creativity.

He also said that he was pleased that Friedman had agreed to stay on with the firm for the transition period and thanked him for the invaluable advice he had provided since 1985, when the firm was founded.