Surprise and strong words as a nine-partner Hogan Lovells team quits for MoFo’s German launch

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While Hogan Lovells has had its integration challenges since the three-year Anglo/American union that created it, the firm’s well-regarded German practice had seemed one part of the empire enjoying prosperous tranquillity.

As such there was some surprise – not least at Hogan Lovells – with the announcement today (24 September), that a nine-partner team is to leave the firm’s Berlin arm to launch a German law practice for top 50 US practice Morrison & Foerster. The team constitutes Hogan Lovells’ entire partnership ranks in Berlin.

Morrison carried out a partner vote to ratify the addition of the team of nine partners, who are currently working with more than 20 associates and counsel. A statement from the firm subsequently confirmed that the US firm had taken on a 30-lawyer team from Hogan Lovells in Berlin.

Continue reading “Surprise and strong words as a nine-partner Hogan Lovells team quits for MoFo’s German launch”

Recruitment drive for Cadwalader in London reaps double Mayer Brown hire

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Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft’s efforts to rebuild its London finance team were today rewarded with the hire of two leading Mayer Brown structured finance partners to boost its City offering.

Former Mayer Brown finance and banking practice head Bruce Bloomingdale joins the 435-lawyer firm today (18 September) alongside Chicago banking and finance partner Jeremiah Wagner, who has been on secondment to Mayer Brown’s London office. Continue reading “Recruitment drive for Cadwalader in London reaps double Mayer Brown hire”

Swings and roundabouts: DLA Piper announces replacement Birmingham head and double hire as Patrick Somers joins from BLP

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After losing Birmingham managing partner Mark Beardmore to Eversheds last week DLA Piper has announced his replacement plus a double hire to boot, as former Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) partner Patrick Somers joins the firm.

Somers, who was BLP’s Thames Water relationship partner and led its innovative managed legal services (MLS) division, under which it took over the legal work and staff of Thames Water, becomes the second BLP partner this year to join DLA, after corporate partner Rob Salter joined in May. Continue reading “Swings and roundabouts: DLA Piper announces replacement Birmingham head and double hire as Patrick Somers joins from BLP”

Further DLA regional fall out as Eversheds hires Birmingham managing partner and head of technology

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DLA Piper has suffered further regional losses as Birmingham managing partner Mark Beardmore and head of technology and sourcing Simon Jones depart for Eversheds.

Corporate M&A and private equity partner Beardmore, who regularly acts for private equity funders and management teams on management buyouts and secondary buyouts, is thought to have been approached by Eversheds and resigned from DLA last week. Continue reading “Further DLA regional fall out as Eversheds hires Birmingham managing partner and head of technology”

Revolving Doors: September ushers in hires for Bakers, Clyde & Co, Eversheds, Pinsent Masons and Irwin Mitchell

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A return to business as usual this September has brought a wave of lateral hires including 4,000-lawyer Baker & McKenzie’s recruitment of leading M&A partner Mats Sacklén (pictured) from the London office of McDermott Will & Emery, where he was head of the European corporate practice. Sacklén, who joins Baker’s Stockholm office to bolster its European corporate offering, is dual-qualified in Swedish and US law and focuses on cross-border M&A, divestures, joint ventures, privatisations, and debt and equity investments.

Sten Bauer, managing partner in Stockholm, commented: ‘He is very well-known in the market, both in London and Stockholm, and has worked on some of Europe’s largest deals over the past decade.’ Continue reading “Revolving Doors: September ushers in hires for Bakers, Clyde & Co, Eversheds, Pinsent Masons and Irwin Mitchell”

Lateral movement: Martin explains Macfarlanes’ current hiring spree

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One of the biggest surprises to come out of Macfarlanes lately is not that it was one of the strongest performers in the LB100 this year, but rather the significantly accelerated rate of lateral hires joining the firm, bringing an increased risk of upsetting traditionalists at the City blueblood.

With the recent re-hire of one its former lawyers, Michael Parkinson from Russell-Cooke, 71-partner Macfarlanes has made seven lateral hires in around two years, as opposed to its typical average of one per year. Managing partner Charles Martin says the firm will continue to add to this number over the next 12 months. Continue reading “Lateral movement: Martin explains Macfarlanes’ current hiring spree”

US lateral spree: Jones Day closes in on 50 hires for 2013 as King & Spalding continues to crank up City offering

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In its 49th lateral hire of 2013, Jones Day has hired Latham & Watkins finance partner Brian Conway to its London banking and finance practice. His hire comes amid a spate of lateral hires to take place between US-based international firms recently.

Conway is the tenth partner to join one of the firm’s global banking and finance practices this year, following the hire of former co-chair of Miami-based firm Akerman Senterfitt’s Rafael Aguilar who joined Jones Day’s recently launched Miami banking and finance practice in July.

Continue reading “US lateral spree: Jones Day closes in on 50 hires for 2013 as King & Spalding continues to crank up City offering”

Clifford Chance snares BLP’s contentious tax head

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Senior exits from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) continue apace as Clifford Chance has confirmed the hire of Liesl Fichardt, the head of BLP’s contentious tax practice.

Announced today (4 September), the loss is a blow to the tax team at the 782-lawyer BLP as heavyweight Fichardt, who joined the firm in 2008, is a veteran of the legal market. Acknowledged in the Legal 500 as a ‘masterful team head,’ she also practised as a tax barrister for 13 years before joining Dorsey & Whitney in 2006.

Continue reading “Clifford Chance snares BLP’s contentious tax head”

Revolving doors: Linklaters boosts Asia restructuring practice while SJ Berwin makes key disputes hire

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In the second recruit to its Hong Kong office in the last couple of weeks, Linklaters has hired former Allen & Overy (A&O) partner David Kidd to lead its restructuring & insolvency (R&I) practice as the Magic Circle firm strengthens its finance and litigation teams in the region.

Kidd, who has operated under his own banner for around a year since leaving A&O in 2012, will make the move to Linklaters next month, joining former Herbert Smith Freehills Asia disputes head Gavin Lewis, whose appointment as partner to Linklaters litigation team was announced in August.

Continue reading “Revolving doors: Linklaters boosts Asia restructuring practice while SJ Berwin makes key disputes hire”

Healthy competition: Capsticks takes five partners from DAC Beachcroft

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It may be one of its signature practice areas but progressive insurance giant DAC Beachcroft last week (30 August) confirmed five Leeds-based partners will be leaving its market-leading health team for rival specialist Capsticks.

Although departure dates are yet to be finalised, Ian Cooper, Rachael Heenan, Robert McGough, Ron Simms and Claire Reynolds will all make the move to Capsticks next year.

DAC Beachcroft, which has advised the NHS since its inception 65 years ago, has the largest health practice of any UK law firm with 487-strong firmwide team comprising 50 partners and 200 fee earners operating across the independent and public sector, according to the firm. Continue reading “Healthy competition: Capsticks takes five partners from DAC Beachcroft”