Law Firm Partner Moves in London - Issue 42

There were a total of 77 announced partner hires in September and October – which although a decrease of 11% on the number recorded during the same period last year, was the exact same number we recorded in 2015.

The most acquisitive firms in this edition (each hiring 4 partners a-piece) were Osborne Clarke and newly established sports boutique Northridge Law – whose founding quartet hail from Charles Russell Speechlys.

Next up were BLP, Dechert, and DWF - each of whom have nabbed 3 partners including, in the case of DWF, legal celebrity, and former global Co-Chair of DLA, Sir Nigel Knowles. BLP’s trio of new starters, announced against the backdrop of its advanced merger discussions with Bryan Cave, includes Linklaters financial services regulatory partner Daniel Csefalvay – initially reported to be joining Latham & Watkins back in March.

Of note, in a rare reversal of the seemingly one-way traffic – which has seen a steady flow of big name private equity and private equity funds partners moving to US headquartered firms - Linklaters has manged to snatch Latham & Watkins co-head of investment funds Tom Alabaster.

There were 24 non-partners moving for partnership promotion – accounting for 31% of all moves in this edition and proportionally the highest number we have ever recorded. In view of the economic uncertainties surrounding Brexit and the inherent instability of the UK’s hung parliament, we find this interesting as such promotion hires are traditionally associated with a buoyant, even frothy, market.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss this article or any other aspect of the market in more depth.

Scott Gibson, Director   scott.gibson@edwardsgibson.com

Sloane Poulton, Director   sloane.poulton@edwardsgibson.com

Mark Coates, Senior Consultant   mark.coates@edwardsgibson.com

Please click here to understand our methodology for compiling Partner Moves