Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer disputes veteran Ian Terry is leaving the Magic Circle firm after 38 years and heading to the Bar.
After a long-standing run with Freshfields Terry is retiring from the firm and will join One Essex Court as a mediator later this year.
Terry joined Freshfields in 1978, one year after studying law at the University of Oxford. He qualified in 1980 and became a partner in 1986.
He became managing partner in 1996 for five years, becoming the first litigator to take on the role, and was the practice group leader for disputes from 2006 to the end of 2008.
In recent years, Terry has acted in a number of high profile Russian and CIS related disputes. Some of his highlight matters include representing various defendants in proceedings brought by Boris Berezovsky against Roman Abramovich and others in the UK High Court; advising a Ukrainian oligarch in UK High Court and LCIA proceedings brought by a fellow oligarch; and acting for a leading pharmaceuticals company in a dispute with a biotech company concerning the royalties payable in relation to a blockbuster drug developed in a joint collaboration.
Freshfields boasts a large disputes team in the City with over 30 partners specialising in disputes including Ian Taylor, Geoff Nicholas and, Chris Pugh who was recently elected co-global managing partner of the firm.
‘I have been involved in a lot of mediations in my time and know many fantastic counsel at One Essex Court and I’m really excited about joining,’ Terry told Legal Business. ‘I have had the privilege to be involved in all the international expansion in what was a very interesting time for the firm.’
jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk
For more on Freshfields see the feature ‘The last champions – meet the leaders intent on sealing Freshfields’ place in the global elite.’