Law firms have attempted to blow away the Brexit blues with new partner hires. Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Hogan Lovells have added to their London offices, while in the Magic Circle Allen & Overy has expanded in Germany and Clifford Chance has boosted its Washington DC practice.
Hogan Lovells has grown its London tax practice to seven with the addition of Elliot Weston who joins from Gowling WLG.
Weston has previously acted on real estate and funds matters, as well as M&A and joint ventures. His past work includes the £100m public listing of student accommodation firm REIT on the London Stock Exchange.
Hogan Lovells tax co-head Karen Hughes said: ‘Given [Elliot’s] significant track record in the real estate sector and in the funds market, I know he will help bring further opportunities across the corporate practice group.’
New York-based Willkie has hired former Herbert Smith Freehills financial services consultant Henrietta de Salis as a partner in its London office.
De Salis joins the firm’s London asset management group and financial services department. She has previously worked at Linklaters in the financial regulation group and as head of capital markets at reinsurer Swiss Re. Willkie recently added Bain Capital Credit’s European GC Mark Fine as a partner in May this year.
In the US, Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance has enhanced its litigation practice by adding Janet Whittaker as a partner, joining from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
Whittaker has worked on international commercial arbitrations in energy, oil and gas, IT and private equity and previously acted as legal counsel at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Clifford Chance Americas litigation and disputes resolution head David DiBari said: ‘We are committed to expanding our US Litigation and Arbitration practice in the US through key lateral hirings and organic growth. Janet is a great addition to our team.’
In Germany, Allen & Overy (A&O) boosted its global antitrust practice, appointing Börries Ahrens in its Hamburg office as partner. Ahrens joins from White & Case, where he became a partner in 2010.
A&O Germany senior partner Neil Weiand said: ‘Ahrens enjoys an excellent reputation in the German market. With his appointment, we are strengthening our German teams in response to clients’ growing needs for advice on antitrust issues.’
Ahrens will work alongside partners Ellen Braun and Jürgen Schindler, and he joins following the appointment of Yvo de Vries as partner based in Amsterdam. De Vries served as head of legal compliance at Philips Lighting.
matthew.field@legalease.co.uk
