In a rare exit, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has lost partner Martin Davies to Latham & Watkins. It is understood Davies (pictured) has taken on a leadership role in Latham’s London dispute resolution group.
Davies joined Quinn in late 2010 from Olswang where he headed up its litigation practice. He is the first lateral hire to leave the London office in around nine years.
Most recently Davies acted on the Royal Bank of Scotland’s £4bn rights issue litigation advising a group of claimants who settled late last year. Thousands of claimants represented by Signature Litigation will press ahead for trial next spring.
Quinn’s London co-head Richard East told Legal Business: ‘It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Martin Davies will be leaving us to join Latham & Watkins to head up Latham’s dispute resolution group. Martin, who was one of our founding fathers, will be sorely missed. He has had a fantastic career here at Quinn and we have no doubt that he will make a huge success of his move to Latham. We are certain that we will remain friends and will look forward to working with him in the future.’
Earlier this month Latham lost its London litigation chair Simon Bushell to boutique disputes outfit Signature Litigation. Prior to his move in 2013, Bushell spent more than 16 years as a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills, the firm he joined in 1987.
Latham London office head Jay Sadanandan said: ‘We are committed to building a leading disputes practice in the City to complement our formidable strength in the United States and other markets around the world. Martin will help us do just that.’
But Quinn expects to continue its expansion. Last week Legal Business revealed the US firm will increase its office space by half with a move into a floor of Olswang’s 90 High Holborn premises as the TMT player heads toward its merger.
madeleine.farman@legalease.co.uk