In its most significant hire since David Higgins’ move to Kirkland & Ellis in 2017, the US leader tapped Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer again by acquiring another of its private equity veterans, Adrian Maguire. The move for Kirkland further strengthens the firm’s ambitions to bulk up its European M&A practice, while for Freshfields the departure raises further concerns over its ability to retain top City talent (see comment).
Kirkland & Ellis also expanded in the City through the hire of tax partner David Irvine from US rival Weil, Gotshal & Manges. With particular experience of tax issues on a range of financing and restructuring transactions, Irvine now rejoins former Weil Gotshal partners Jonathan Kandel, Ian Ferreira and Frixos Hatjantonas.
Mishcon de Reya filled the hole left by Alison Levitt QC’s departure to 2 Hare Court by hiring Kingsley Napley partner Johanna Walsh (pictured). Most recently, Walsh acted for Tesco as the supermarket avoided prosecution from the Serious Fraud Office and her arrival expands Mishcon’s white-collar practice to two partners.
Fieldfisher hired corporate partner Matthew Williams from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, where he acted as co-head of the firm’s European energy practice. Williams has now become Fieldfisher’s co-head of energy and natural resources, based in London and Birmingham.
Linklaters continues to focus on its US offering, hiring Jerome Roche in Washington DC from Mayer Brown. Roche joined the firm’s financial regulation group, having also acted as attorney for the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
City disputes specialist Signature Litigation made one of the bolder sets of hires in January, after branching out into Paris. The firm’s new French offering saw two former Hogan Lovells partners join the firm in Thomas Rouhette, former head of its Paris disputes team, and litigator Sylvie Gallage-Alwis. Meanwhile Emmanuèle Lutfalla also joined the firm from French insurance boutique Soulié & Coste-Floret.
DAC Beachcroft also opened up in Paris for the first time, hiring two partners from local firm HMN & Partners. Vladimir Rostan d’Ancezune will head the office, while Christophe Wucher-North also joins.