Fred Heller retired from the partnership at the end of 2016 after leading the firm’s international finance practice from London and serving as partner in charge of the firm’s London office from 2001 to 2010.

On retiring from the Firm, Fred was appointed professor in residence at the University of San Diego Law School and director of its U.S. Law and Policy Program for International Professionals.

As a professor, he teaches law school courses including international deals, business transactions in emerging markets, and public international law. He is responsible for mid-career international professionals, primarily from Korea, who spend attend the law school’s U.S. Law and Policy Program for up to two years. These professionals include judges, prosecutors, regulatory agency directors and lawyers from Korean firms.

Fred practiced in Europe for more than 25 years. He has acted in significant financings and mergers and acquisitions in most emerging markets, including Russia, all Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Middle East, Africa and India, and in every European Union member state. He also acted for clients in European Commission merger, competition and regulatory proceedings.

Clients quoted in legal rankings publications have lauded Fred’s legal and negotiating skills. In Chambers & Partners UK, they called him “a solution maker in complex situations,” and “a fantastic lawyer” who stands “shoulder to shoulder with clients on deals.”

Fred was heavily involved in the growth of international telecommunications, from the early 1990s, when private operators were first permitted to compete against European state-owned operators, to the present liberalized market.

For a dozen years, he advised VEON Ltd. (formerly VimpelCom Ltd.), a leading global telecommunications company, in its expansion through Russia, the CIS, Africa, Asia and other emerging markets, as well as in the European Union. Before joining the firm, he served as outside general counsel for Europe to an American telecommunications operator in its pursuit of mobile telecommunications licenses and ventures in most EU member states.

Earlier in his career, Fred practiced with another international law firm. He established and managed that firm’s Brussels office and, in 1997, moved to London to head its European offices.

Before entering law school, Fred worked as a news reporter with The Wall Street Journal, The Atlanta Constitution, The New York Daily News and The Concord (N.H.) Daily Monitor.