International round-up: Europe focus for new offices and key hires while Clydes US deal hits buffers

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In a busy week for international practices, DWF has made a breakthrough on the continent, opening its first Italy office in Milan with a 16-lawyer team including four partners. The latest launch for the ever-expanding firm comes just a few weeks after announcing a launch in Australia.

Three of the Milan partners, corporate finance specialist Michele Cicchetti, tax partner Tancredi Marino and M&A partner Luca Cuomo, will join DWF’s Milan office from local independent firm Pavia & Ansaldo with Cicchetti becoming managing partner of DWF Italy. The fourth partner, real estate specialist Daniele Zanni, arrives from fellow Italian independent LS Lexjus Sinacta. The remaining 12 lawyers are all being supplied by Pavia. Continue reading “International round-up: Europe focus for new offices and key hires while Clydes US deal hits buffers”

Kennedys ramps up expansion at home and abroad with double hire from Mayer Brown and launch of Bermuda office

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Top-50 insurance specialist Kennedys has continued its rapid expansion both in London and further afield with a double hire from Mayer Brown in the City and the launch of a Bermuda office – the firm’s tenth office launch this year – with local law firm Sedgwick Chudleigh joining the firm’s global network.

In London, Kennedys has hired Mayer Brown’s London insurance and reinsurance head David Chadwick as well as partner Andrew McGahey, who will join the firm’s Dublin office. Continue reading “Kennedys ramps up expansion at home and abroad with double hire from Mayer Brown and launch of Bermuda office”

HSF launches in Milan with hire of Simmons Italian disputes head

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Strengthening its considerable European disputes offering, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) will open in Milan with the hire of Simmons & Simmons’ Italian disputes and IP head Laura Orlando.

The firm is seeking to take advantage of the European pharmaceutical patent litigation market, second only in the world to the US in terms of size. The office is set to officially open in early 2018. Continue reading “HSF launches in Milan with hire of Simmons Italian disputes head”

Linklaters throws down gauntlet as Latham funds co-head makes rare City switch

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Linklaters throws down gauntlet as Latham funds co-head makes rare City switch

In an unusual City move from a US firm to the Magic Circle, Latham & Watkins co-head of investment funds Tom Alabaster is to join Linklaters three years after joining Latham from Carlyle.

The hire comes a few months after Linklaters launched a refreshed strategy to focus on financial sponsors and fund formation and Alabaster, who starts next month, is a significant coup for a firm less known for fund formation work compared to rivals Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Clifford Chance. Continue reading “Linklaters throws down gauntlet as Latham funds co-head makes rare City switch”

Revolving doors: firms make key in-house hires as partners move in opposite direction

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In a brisk week for lateral hires, Global 100 firms have looked in-house to boost their senior ranks while private practice partners have gone the other way.

Hogan Lovells has boosted its London construction and engineering disputes practice, bringing in Angus Rankin as a partner from Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Europe (MHPSE). Continue reading “Revolving doors: firms make key in-house hires as partners move in opposite direction”

Revolving Doors: Hogan Lovells and OC bolster City ranks while Kennedys ramps up US practice with three-partner hire

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It has been another busy seven days for senior recruitment, with a host of top 50 UK law firms making senior appointments in the Square Mile and beyond.

In London, Hogan Lovells has bolstered its finance practice with the recruitment of Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) partner Arun Velusami, who leaves the City firm after 11 years, seven of them as a partner. Velusami joins Hogan Lovells’ Africa practice in London and will also be a member of the Anglo-American firm’s energy, infrastructure and projects team. Adrian Walker, global co-head of Hogan Lovells’ energy and projects team, described Velusami as a ‘class act’. Continue reading “Revolving Doors: Hogan Lovells and OC bolster City ranks while Kennedys ramps up US practice with three-partner hire”

Simmons & Simmons becomes third international firm to launch in Ireland since Brexit vote with key local hire

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While there hasn’t been the anticipated rush of City firms into alternative European financial centres since the UK voted for Brexit, Simmons & Simmons has become the third international firm to plan a launch in Dublin since last June as the referendum result continues to boost the Irish capital as a professional service hub.

Mason Hayes & Curran’s head of investment funds and financial regulation Fionán Breathnach will leave the Irish firm to lead the Simmons’ new office as it follows Covington & Burling and Pinsent Masons  to make moves to launch practices in Dublin. Continue reading “Simmons & Simmons becomes third international firm to launch in Ireland since Brexit vote with key local hire”

DWF adds to senior ranks once more as Addleshaws heavyweight Carpenter jumps ship

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A month after recruiting former DLA Piper leader Sir Nigel Knowles, DWF has brought in a senior hand again with the hire of Addleshaw Goddard heavyweight Andrew Carpenter, who leaves a year after losing a contested election for senior partner .

Carpenter, who was latterly international divisional managing partner for Addleshaws after leading its private equity practice joins Mel Sims, formerly at DLA Piper, to beef up DWF’s London corporate offering. The hires follow the appointment of London head of corporate Matthew Doughty from Squire Patton Boggs in June 2016 and partner Alistair Hogarth from PwC Legal earlier this year. Continue reading “DWF adds to senior ranks once more as Addleshaws heavyweight Carpenter jumps ship”

Latham hires New York playmaker to bolster M&A team in significant loss for A&O

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Latham hires New York playmaker to bolster M&A team in significant loss for A&O

Latham & Watkins has secured a senior hire from a Magic Circle competitor in New York, recruiting Allen & Overy (A&O) corporate veteran Peter Harwich.

Harwich specialises in advising public companies on complex public and private M&A transactions. He was established as one of A&O’s leading US deal advisers having handled $1bn-plus deals for Thomson Reuters, SAP, Deutsche Börse, Misys and GE. Continue reading “Latham hires New York playmaker to bolster M&A team in significant loss for A&O”

BLM takes 30-lawyer team from Slater and Gordon to launch commercial practice

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In another blow to the flagging UK arm of Slater and Gordon (S&G), 33 of the firm’s lawyers have departed to staff insurance specialist BLM’s new commercial advisory practice.

The team, which includes 11 partners, has joined BLM today (2 October) to run the new practice which will be spread across the firm’s Manchester and London offices.

Continue reading “BLM takes 30-lawyer team from Slater and Gordon to launch commercial practice”