Hogan Lovells is set to lose financial disputes and legacy Lovells partner Luci Angus from its ranks in four weeks’ time.
Having been made up to partner in 2007 prior to Lovells merger with Washington DC-based Hogan & Hartson, Angus is experienced in disputes involving banks and other financial institutions and completed a secondment at Barclays during her time at the firm. Her experience also includes previously advising an investment bank in relation to allegations of mis-selling in connection with a $2bn collateralised debt obligation.
Angus is expected to take time off for personal reasons when she leaves Hogan Lovells, and is not said to be joining another firm at present.
She is one of a number of legacy Lovells contentious partners to exit the firm since the merger went live in 2010, while other legacy dispute partners to depart include duo Graham Huntley and Helen Brannigan in March 2012, who set up their own litigation boutique Signature Litigation, and partner Lawson Caisley, who quit for Allen & Overy that same month.
Michael Davison, global co-head of the litigation, arbitration & employment at Hogan Lovells, said: ‘Luci has enjoyed a successful career with the firm, advising some of the world’s largest banks, investment banks and other financial services institutions on a plethora of complex litigation matters. On behalf of all partners and everyone in Hogan Lovells we would like to express our deep appreciation and thanks for the commitment Luci has shown to the firm and wish her all the best for whatever new challenges she decides to take on.’
Hogan Lovells is acknowledged to have wrestled with some cultural issues and struggled for growth since the 2010 union, which forged a top 15 global law firm. However, the ambitious firm has remained in investment mode across its global network. Hogan Lovells in recent months has recruited notable partners such as Norton Rose Fulbright competition partner Mark Jones, Field Fisher Waterhouse’s head of data protection Eduardo Ustaran and as well as SJ Berwin corporate partner Ed Harris.
The LB100 firm also announced this month that it is to combine with 120-lawyer South African firm Routledge Modise, which is set to rebrand under the Hogan Lovells name as early as 2014.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk
For more on the post-merger challenges facing Hogan Lovells, see our analysis, The daily grind – toil and tension as Hogan Lovells gets past the honeymoon period.