The pace of lateral hires remains constant as spring approaches, with firms making a host of key appointments in the UK and abroad. Stewarts Law has patched the gap left by the departure of Scott Campbell while Allen & Overy, Keystone Law, CMS and DAC Beachcroft have all secured significant moves.
DAC Beachcroft has added to its safety, health and environment team with the appointment of Kirsty Gomersal from Clyde & Co as partner. Gomersal specialises in complex environmental and health and safety defence work, and is also an assistant coroner in the West Yorkshire area.
Completing the UK-based hires, alternative business structure Keystone Law has made a string of appointments across its residential property, regulatory, disputes, employment and private wealth teams.
Kelly Tinkler, who is dual qualified as a barrister and solicitor, joins Keystone as a partner from Shakespeare Matineau and will supplement the firm’s dispute resolution team. Arriving from Spencer Wyatt, Helen Wyatt joins Keystone’s employment team as a partner with Hugh Murphy adding to the private wealth practice. Murphy, who was a managing associate at Bond Dickinson, acts for individuals, landed estates and institutional clients in relation to all aspects of property law.
Jeremy Woodcraft, previously of Cook & Co, moves to Keystone’s regulatory practice as a partner and Katie Cohen joins the residential property team. Cohen, who previously acted as a consultant at Bircham Dyson Bell, specialises in all aspects of leasehold enfranchisement, acting for both landlords and tenants.
Stewarts, which last week said it had called off merger talks with Enyo Law, has brought Kenny Henderson into its competition litigation department. Henderson joins as a partner having been of counsel at Covington & Burling.
Stewarts managing partner John Cahill commented: ‘Kenny has a strong track record in competition and cartel damages litigation. I am delighted that he has joined the firm.’
Henderson’s arrival makes up for the departure of fellow competition litigator Campbell, who is set to join Hausfeld on 30 April 2017.
On the continent, Allen & Overy has made a move for Ernst & Young’s tax partner Adolfo Zunzunegui. Previously working for Spanish heavyweight Garrigues, Zunzunegui will lead A&O’s tax practice in Madrid.
Zunzunegui commented: ‘Leading Allen & Overy’s Spanish tax department offers an exciting challenge, not only as a result of the firm’s current excellent position, its incredible staff and the potential to develop my practice, but also the opportunity to work within a truly integrated network of reputable tax professionals, together with experts in other disciplines spread throughout the globe.’
CMS has also improved its European offering by appointing Andreas Köhler and Gabor Toth to its Budapest office. Köhler joins CMS as partner and head of CEE German Projects, bringing over 15 years’ experience working on cross-border transactions, dispute resolution, commercial and employment matters. Köhler is joined by senior associate Gabor Toth, a native German and Hungarian speaker who will work on the commercial and German desk in Budapest.
CEE managing director Dora Petranyi said: ‘German, Austrian and Swiss companies are key investors in the region and Andreas’ experience is a perfect fit with our strategy to expand our offering for these clients on a cross-border basis.’
tom.baker@legalease.co.uk