Regional and international hires dominated lateral recruitment in the last week as City hiring stalled, with DLA Piper bringing on a corporate partner in Manchester and national firm Shoosmiths adding to its Birmingham bench.
Meanwhile, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang and Clifford Chance (CC) both made international hires.
DLA recruited former Eversheds Sutherland North West head of private equity Andrew Phillips as a corporate partner in Manchester. Phillips left Eversheds after just over a year at the firm, having previously been partner at Pinsent Masons.
DLA North West managing partner Liam Cowell commented: ‘We have been aware of Andy’s strong reputation for a number of years and very much look forward to him joining the team’
Shoosmiths also made a regional play, bolstering its banking and project finance practice with the hire of Gowling WLG partner Nick Iliff, who joins the firm’s Birmingham office. Iliff has experience in project finance and has advised a number of lenders and public borrowers on the financing of infrastructure and energy projects across the UK.
Further north, leading Scottish independent Brodies announced the appointment of Tony Jones, who joins the firm as partner in its advocacy unit. Having taken silk in 2017, Jones is one of three practising civil solicitor advocate QCs in Scotland, and joins the firm from Glasgow-based law firm BTO where he was partner.
Brodies managing partner Nick Scott commented: ‘Our litigation practice set out in its strategic plan to create a holistic service, which gives clients greater choice of representation in every forum. Tony’s appointment is part of the delivery of that strategy and we are confident our clients will benefit from Tony’s decision to join our firm.’
Elsewhere, CC was among those to make a significant hire in a busier international round, recruiting Michael Dietrich from Herbert Smith Freehills as partner based in the firm’s Düsseldorf office. Dietrich brings experience in the consumer goods, retail, automotive and tourism industries and previously led Herbert Smith’s German practice and antitrust team.
CC Germany managing partner Peter Dieners commented: ‘His expertise and experience perfectly complements our strong antitrust team.’
CMS also made moves abroad, appointing Patrick McPherson as a partner in the firm’s infrastructure, construction and energy disputes team in Dubai. McPherson joins from Hadef & Partners were he was partner, while he previously led the legal team at Dutco Balfour Beatty. The addition follows a series of appointments CMS has made in the Middle East practice over the last 12 months.
Italian law firm BonelliErede, meanwhile, integrated with boutique firm Tribonian Law Advisors (TLA) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). TLA founder Rindala Beydoun will take on the role of managing partner of BonelliErede’s Middle East office and also be a member of the firm’s Africa committee. The integration will also see Carlo Pianese and Emile Boulos join the firm in Dubai as partners, with the move completed by 1 July.
thomas.alan@legalbusiness.co.uk
