Baker & McKenzie has hired three partners from DLA Piper’s Mexico City office as the latter combines with a local outfit to extend its offering, meanwhile Clyde & Co has launched in Brisbane after taking three partners from Sparke Helmore.
DLA Piper is combining with Mexican firm Gallastegui y Lozano (GyL) in Mexico City under the name DLA Piper Gallastegui y Lozano. In total, seven GyL partners will join with business, telecoms, pharma and M&A specialist Eduardo Gallastegui taking on the role of managing partner.
The combined Mexican firm will house 23 lawyers in total with other partners joining including Maria Eugenia Rios, Gerardo Lozano, Jorge Benejam, Gabriela Alaña, Marcelo Paramo and Cecilia Azar.
However, DLA Piper’s Mexico City office, which opened in 2012, has lost three partners to Baker & Mckenzie with corproate/M&A partners Carlos Valencia and Tatiana Escribano and real estate and infrastructure partner Miguel de Erice joining along with a four-strong team of lawyers.
Meanwhile, Clyde & Co has launched its fourth Australian office – Brisbane – with the hire of three partners from local firm Sparke Helmore.
Partners Matthew Pokarier, Jacinta Long and Maxine Tills join the firm with Pokarier heading the Brisbane practice. The new team will focus on all classes of insurance, but particularly professional, directors’ and officers’, product and general liability, as well as commercial litigation.
Clyde & Co confirmed it is looking to hire a further 20 lawyers in Brisbane this year, in a bid to boost headcount in Australia to over 100. Clyde & Co Australia managing partner John Edmond said: ‘Our opening in Brisbane sees the achievement of our Australian strategy of a four-office national spread.’
Clyde & Co launched in Australia in October 2012 with offices in Sydney and Perth with the acquisition of a specialist insurance team from Australian firm Allens. In September 2013, the firm opened a Melbourne office, and added infrastructure, transportation and international trade expertise.
jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk
