Baker & McKenzie is to take on two partners from King & Wood Mallesons‘ European partnership including private equity partner Will Holder and employment partner Carl Richards.
The pair arrive with a team of five associates including members of the private equity and employment teams. Holder was previously head of KWM’s China Group and spent ten months seconded to Chinese offices.
Richards (pictured) was head of the firm’s employment group with experience of advising on employment aspects of corporate transactions and disputes.
Bakers managing partner Alex Chadwick said: ‘Both of them bring many years of experience and expertise in their respective practice areas, which will strengthen our existing capabilities and prove invaluable to our clients.’
KWM is currently in the process of appointing administrators before 16 January. In December the firm confirmed its European arm had filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators with the court.
The beleaguered firm recently lost partners to Fieldfisher and Debevoise & Plimpton in exits reported today. Fieldfisher hired technology partner James Walsh, whilst Debevoise announced it is taking on private equity lawyer Simon Witney as a consultant. In Germany, Frankfurt-based corporate partner Michiel Huizinga is expected to move to Allen & Overy while DLA Piper has taken on the firm’s former head of real estate for Germany Lars Reubekeul and real estate partner Florian Biesalski.
The latest departures come as Legal Business revealed yesterday that KWM’s European arm had stopped paying 100 staff. Employees were notified of the decision on 3 January – the first day back for many after the Christmas break.
matthew.field@legalease.co.uk
