Headline Partner Moves in London January May 2017 Introduction

Transcription

1 Headline Partner Moves in London January May 2017 Introduction Our previous market report, which covered the last quarter of 2016, was dominated by one story the demise of KWM in London. We reported on 61 partner moves from KWM as it struggled for survival, before finally going into administration on the 17th January. This report adds another 15 names who left as partners/senior associates to become partners elsewhere. Confusingly, as soon as the European, UK and Middle East business went into administration, the firm announced that it would be keeping a London presence with seven partners staying on at what was dubbed KWM 2.0. With a couple of exceptions, the vast majority of KWM partners are therefore now in new homes. However, when partners move quickly in distressed circumstances, often they don t stay at their new firm for too long. We will track this over coming months to see if this rings true.

2 After the KWM feeding frenzy had subsided, we were interested to see whether partner recruitment levels would dip, especially as we had yet to see any post-brexit slow down. In terms of volume, this hasn t happened and in this report, we track 202 moves, as against 200 over the same period in However, by conducting a more forensic analysis, a few things really stand out: For the first time since we started analysing the list of moves by discipline (January 2015), commercial litigation came out on top with 27 hires see table below. There were also several contentious moves in areas such as tax, competition, financial services, real estate and IP/IT, all of which contribute to a picture that much of the recent activity in the lateral recruitment space is in the disputes arena. Employment and insurance also saw an above average number of moves as compared to the same period in There has been a significant drop off in real estate hiring in If we strip out real estate finance, litigation, social housing and residential partners, we only report on 5 mainstream commercial property moves over the last 4 months. Over the same period last year, this number was 11. To be fair, this report comes off the back of a bumper crop of real estate moves at the end of 2016, when we reported on 17 real estate lateral hires, dominated by fallout from the KWM

3 administration. It will be interesting to see whether the start of 2017 is a blip, or whether this is the beginning of a real estate lateral recruitment slow down. Corporate recruitment is also significantly down, with only 21 moves in this report as against 35 at the same time last year. Breaking this down further, 3 out of the 21 were US securities lawyers (one of whom moved in house), and there were 3 other moves from private practice to in house, as well as 4 former KWM partners finding new homes. Of the remaining corporate/private equity moves, we had to wait until mid-may for a genuine headline-grabber, with the news breaking this week of Richard Youle swapping White & Case for Skadden. Perhaps more significantly, we report on 13 moves in insolvency/restructuring over the last 4 months, as against 10 for the whole of We assiduously track which firms are the most active lateral recruiters, and there has been a definite slowdown in activity at some of the leading US firms. In 2016, the 5 most active US headquartered lateral recruiters in London (for these purposes we don t include US firms that have merged or taken over a UK firm), were Latham, Sidley, White & Case, Kirkland and Goodwin, with a massive 53 lateral hires between them. In this market report, these firms account for only 6 moves in total.

4 More telling is the fact that, in our analysis of top hiring firms for Jan to May 2017, there are only 2 US headquartered firms McDermott Will & Emery and Covington with 4 hires each. In 2016 there were 7 US-headquartered firms who made at least 7 partner hires each. We seem to be a long way from this being repeated this year. Is this a pause for breath by these voracious partner recruiters after a frenetic 2016 or is it the start of something more pronounced? And yet, despite all these points, the volume of hires has stayed amazingly consistent, so who is picking up the slack? The top hiring firm this quarter is Simmons & Simmons, with 8 laterals joining the firm in London. We then have 5 firms who have each announced 5 partners apiece since the turn of the year Clyde & Co, Eversheds, Forsters, Mishcon de Reya and Reed Smith. Our initial conclusion is that we are seeing a delayed Brexit effect on the market for partners in the City. Partner recruitment moves slowly, and many of the moves announced since the turn of the year would have been in the works for much of It is fascinating that the overall number of partners moving has remained constant pre-and post-brexit, but our analysis has detected a marked shift away from corporate and real estate partner recruitment towards litigation and restructuring. It is perhaps too soon to judge quite how far the market has shifted away from transactional areas, but we will carefully track these trends throughout the rest of 2017.

5 CORPORATE Skadden Arps has made a major double hire in London with the addition of White & Case global private equity co-head Richard Youle, and fellow private equity partner Katja Butler. It is rare to see US partner moves in London between elite Wall Street firms, and so Alvaro Membrillera s move to Paul Weiss from Simpson Thacher really stood out. Unlike Simpson, Paul Weiss is one of the few US firms in London that has steadfastly refused to practice UK law, benefiting instead from continued referral arrangements with top City firms. RESTRUCTURING/FINANCE As we mentioned in the introduction, the last few months have seen a big uptick in restructuring recruitment. There are a couple of standout moves, both featuring magic circle firms. Sean Lacey swapped Freshfields for Kirkland as the Chicago-based firm again flexed its financial muscles in the lateral recruitment market. It hasn t taken long for Linklaters to fill the gap left by Yen Sum, who jumped to Sidley at the end of 2016 (and who was joined recently by senior associate Jennifer Brennan, also from Linklaters). Since the beginning of the year, Linklaters have recruited Sarah Mook from Goldman Sachs and James Douglas who arrived from Ropes & Gray. Weil Gotshal has boosted its infrastructure and real estate finance offering with the hire of Paul Hibbert who joins from Baker McKenzie. REAL ESTATE Mishcon de Reya have added to their market leading real estate litigation team with the hire of Joanna Lampert from Berwin Leighton Paisner. Goodwin Procter continue to build their real estate credentials in London, unusually for a US firm, and they have most recently announced the hire of Matthew Pohlman, who re-joins the firm from Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. PROJECTS/ENERGY All law firm mergers create lateral partner fall out, and whenever we see a US-UK firm deal, we look at the impact that a tie up will have on the (generally smaller) US firm s office in London. As soon as Chadbourne announced its intention to merge with Norton Rose Fulbright, we expected some of the Chadbourne London partners to vote with their feet. We were therefore not surprised when Ben Donovan and Agnieszka Klich jumped ship for Covington & Burling as part of a 4 partner, 25 associate team across London, Johannesburg (where Donovan will split his time) and Dubai. Donovan and Klich are joined at Covington by former Allen & Overy project finance partner, David Miles. In another merger-related departure, Andrei Baev, who split his time between London and Moscow, leaves Chadbourne for Reed Smith s London office.

6 LITIGATION/ARBITRATION Latham & Watkins take no prisoners when it comes to lateral recruitment. Their latest high-profile partner hire is Martin Davies from Quinn Emanuel. Quinn rarely (as in almost never) lose partners to competitors so Davies hire is a definite coup. Joining Davies is Martin Felstead from Olswang, where the two used to work together. Mishcon de Reya continue to make waves and have been joined by 3 additional litigation partners since the turn of the year. Nicola Bridge joins from KWM, with Genevieve Quierin moving from Humphries Kerstetter. They also welcome a big name in corporate crime, with Jo Rickards leaving Kingsley Napley for a new home at Africa House. There are a number of high profile international arbitration moves in this report. The pick of the bunch is Wendy Miles QC leaving Boies Schiller for Debevoise & Plimpton. Boies Schiller will, however, have been buoyed by the arrival of Dominic Roughton from Herbert Smith Freehills. Ben Morgan s move from the Serious Fraud Office to Freshfields catches the eye, underlining the demand for senior talent in corporate crime and fraud. EMPLOYMENT/PENSIONS In what was arguably the move of 2017 so far, Slaughter and May made its first ever lateral hire in London, with pensions expert Dan Schaffer joining from Herbert Smith Freehills. Ashurst City pensions head Marcus Fink is set to join PwC in another boost for the accountancy firm s legal arm. Elsewhere, fellow accountancy firm RSM has appointed employment partner Carolyn Brown as the first head of its client legal services practice, RSM Legal LLP. IP/TMT/DATA PROTECTION Olswang s former interim CEO Michael Burdon has decided not to join the tripartite merger with CMS and Nabarro, and has instead switched to Simmons & Simmons, who are looking to rebuild their IP practice following a number of defections to Allen & Overy in BLP continues to focus its practice and has moved away from trade mark licencing and disputes work. IP head Simon Clark is joining Bristows with his team, while fellow partner Ian De Freitas moves to Farrer & Co. Technology is a key sector focus for PwC as their legal business continues its impressive growth streak, this month hiring Andrew Giverin and Jason McQuillen, two of the co-founders of boutique Radiant Law. PRIVATE CLIENT/TAX In one of the biggest team moves of the year, Gowling WLG s 4 partner, 10 associate City private client team has moved to Forsters.

7 There were some interesting moves in tax litigation in this report, with the standout move being Liesl Fichardt swapping Clifford Chance for Quinn Emanuel. Bird & Bird also invested in tax disputes, hiring PwC partner Andy Brown alongside 4 other lawyers, including associate Julian Balson who joins as a partner. Paul, Dan and the Team Deacon Search is an independent legal recruitment boutique focusing exclusively on partner moves in London. If you are a law firm interested in discussing a potential assignment or an individual partner or team considering a move, please contact us. Partner Consultants: Paul Dan Scott Norah Sarah Partner Research & Market Intelligence Danielle Gemma Agi

8 The individuals listed in the tables below are movers reported between 11 th January 2017 and 22 nd May They are all partners who moved to or from a London office, unless otherwise stated. 1. Corporate/Private Equity/Equity Capital Markets Jane Ireland Ashfords Boodle Hatfield Corporate Bobby Schrader Berwin Leighton Paisner Barclays Capital Markets US Securities Jon Snade Irwin Mitchell Browne Jacobson Corporate Nick Fothergill Watson Farley & Williams DAC Beachcroft Corporate Cameron Half Allen & Overy (Counsel) Dentons Capital Markets US Securities Alistair Hogarth PwC DWF Corporate Guy Morgan Stephenson Harwood Fox Williams Equity Capital Markets Paul Rosen Clyde & Co (Legal Director) Katten Muchin Rosenman Corporate Sean Page Pinsent Masons Locke Lord Corporate Peter Dickinson Mayer Brown Mitie Corporate Alvaro Membrillera Simpson Thacher Paul Weiss Corporate (US) Alex Latner Berwin Leighton Paisner Playtech Corporate Equity Capital Markets Mark Sanders King & Wood Mallesons Reed Smith Corporate Laura Brunnen King & Wood Mallesons Reed Smith Private Equity Martin Bowen King & Wood Mallesons Reed Smith (Senior Counsel) Private Equity

9 Philip Richards Freshfields Rio Tinto Corporate Steve Barnett Orrick (Of Counsel) Shoosmiths Venture Capital David Parkes King & Wood Mallesons Simmons & Simmons Corporate Richard Youle White & Case Skadden Arps Private Equity Katja Butler White & Case Skadden Arps Private Equity Christopher Rose Dentons (London/ Moscow) Squire Patton Boggs (London/Moscow) Private Equity Venture Capital 2. Finance Beth Collett Allen & Overy (Counsel) Addleshaw Goddard Housing Finance Tamer Bahgat Allen & Overy Ashurst High Yield Agnes Abosi King & Wood Mallesons (Managing Associate) Brown Rudnick Finance Rob Bradshaw Kirkland & Ellis Dechert Finance Nick Hayday Freshfields (Counsel) Dentons Debt Capital Markets Dougall Molson Freshfields Fieldfisher Structured Finance Derivatives Seetal Modi Sidley Austin (Associate) Fladgate Finance Michael Crosby Orrick Gordian Knot Finance Emma Russell Carey Olsen Haynes and Boone CDG Fund Finance

10 Zoe Connor Ashurst Haynes and Boone CDG Fund Finance Peter Crichton CMS McDermott Will & Emery Finance Jennifer Kafcas O Melveny & Myers (Of Counsel) McGuireWoods Finance Ross Caldwell Taylor Wessing Morton Fraser (Scotland) Finance Chris Harrison Morgan Lewis Pillsbury Finance Trevor Wood Mayer Brown Pillsbury Finance Jonathan Mellor Ex Allen & Overy Simmons & Simmons Debt Capital Markets Simon Ovenden Cleary Gottlieb Simmons & Simmons Debt Capital Markets Equity Capital Markets Amer Siddiqui Clifford Chance Simmons & Simmons Securitisation Paul Hibbert Baker McKenzie Weil Gotshal & Manges Chris McGarry Ropes & Gray White & Case Angus Duncan Cadwalader Winston & Strawn Finance Real Estate Finance Structured Finance Securitisation Structured Finance Securitisation 3. Insolvency/Restructuring Louise Bell Olswang Enyo Law Insolvency Litigation Carl Allen Pinsent Masons Eversheds Sutherland Restructuring

11 Stewart Perry Clyde & Co Fieldfisher Insolvency Insolvency Litigation Dan Wheatley King & Wood Mallesons (Counsel) Kerman & Co Insolvency Sean Lacey Freshfields Kirkland & Ellis Restructuring Mark Griffiths Mourant Ozannes (Counsel) Kobre & Kim Insolvency Litigation Sarah Mook Goldman Sachs Linklaters Restructuring James Douglas Ropes & Gray Linklaters Restructuring Alan Gar Simmons & Simmons McDermott Will & Emery Restructuring David Leibowitz Berwin Leighton Paisner Mishcon de Reya Insolvency Litigation Mark Knight Kirkland & Ellis Pillarstone Restructuring Andrew Lockerbie TLT Shoosmiths Restructuring Jennifer Brennan Linklaters (Managing Associate) Sidley Austin Restructuring 4. Financial Services/Funds Simon Witney King & Wood Mallesons Debevoise & Plimpton (Special Counsel) Private Equity Funds Celyn Armstrong Linklaters (Counsel) Dentons Financial Services Regulatory Chris Finney Cooley Fox Williams Daniel Csefalvay Linklaters Latham & Watkins Financial Services Regulatory Financial Services Regulatory

12 Christopher Dearie Jones Day (Associate) MJ Hudson Financial Services Regulatory Rob Mailer King & Wood Mallesons Morrison & Foerster Investment Funds Tim Aron Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer Outer Temple Chambers Financial Services Regulatory Adrian Brown King & Wood Mallesons Reed Smith Rosali Pretorius Dentons Simmons & Simmons Financial Services Regulatory Financial Services Regulatory 5. Real Estate Habib Ullah Taylor Wessing (Dubai) Addleshaw Goddard Real Estate Finance Islamic Finance Kate Silverman TLT Blake Morgan Social Housing Helen Murcott King & Wood Mallesons (Counsel) DAC Beachcroft Real Estate Matthew Pohlman Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Goodwin Procter Hotels Danielle Martin Reed Smith Greenberg Trauig Real Estate Pervaze Ahmed Blake Morgan Howard Kennedy Residential Adrian Barlow Pinsent Masons Irwin Mitchell Real Estate Nick Smith Thor Lion Marriott Harrison Real Estate Joanna Lampert Berwin Leighton Paisner Mishcon de Reya Real Estate Litigation Paul Lucas Linklaters (Counsel) Proskauer Rose Real Estate Finance

13 Helen Hagan Herbert Smith Freehills (Of Counsel) Simmons & Simmons Real Estate Finance Ruby Giblin Clifford Chance Winckworth Sherwood Social Housing Tim Fogarty RPC Winckworth Sherwood Real Estate Litigation Andrew Kinsey Rosenblatt Solicitors Winckworth Sherwood Real Estate 6. Planning Victoria Du Croz Hogan Lovells (Counsel) Forsters Planning 7. Construction Julia Court King & Wood Mallesons Addleshaw Goddard Construction Virginie Colaiuta Pinsent Masons Brown Rudnick (London & Paris) International Arbitration Construction Litigation Nik Haria Rosenblatt Solicitors Edwin Coe Gordon Bell Reed Smith Gowling WLG Ben Mellors Beale and Company Holman Fenwick Willan Construction Construction Litigation International Arbitration Construction Litigation Construction Construction Litigation James Stewart Laytons Howard Kennedy Construction Myles Levy Howard Kennedy Joelson Construction Construction Litigation

14 Stuart Nash Edwin Coe Rosenblatt Solicitors Emily Monastiriotis Bond Dickinson Simmons & Simmons Construction Construction Litigation Construction Litigation Professional Indemnity 8. Project Finance/Projects/Energy/Commodities James Comyn Shearman & Sterling (Abu Dhabi) Andrews Kurth Energy Corporate Richard Price Shearman & Sterling Anglo American Capital Markets Mining Erol Huseyin Norton Rose Fulbright Brachers (Kent) Energy David Hesse Curtis Mallet-Prevost Clyde & Co Peter Stewart Curtis Mallet-Prevost Clyde & Co Energy Litigation International Arbitration Energy Litigation International Arbitration David Hansom Veale Wasbrough Vizards Clyde & Co Procurement Projects Agnieszka Klich Chadbourne & Parke Covington & Burling Project Finance Ben Donovan Chadbourne & Parke Covington & Burling (London & Johannesburg) Project Finance David Miles Ex Allen & Overy Covington & Burling Project Finance Islamic Finance Richard Streeter CMS Eversheds Sutherland Renewable Energy Karim Mahmud Jones Day Eversheds Sutherland Oil & Gas

15 Shane DeBeer Dechert Fieldfisher Energy Jessica Kohler Capsticks Hill Dickinson Procurement Healthcare Adam Topping Cadwalader (Special Counsel) Holman Fenwick Willan Commodities Elisabeth Moseley Clyde & Co McDermott Will & Emery (Counsel) Corporate Energy Andrei Baev Chadbourne & Parke (Moscow) Reed Smith Energy Project Finance Henry Davey Herbert Smith Freehills Squire Patton Boggs (Consultant) Corporate Energy 9. Commercial Litigation/International Arbitration/Corporate Crime Justin Weare Jones Day (Associate) Blake Morgan Commercial Litigation International Arbitration Dominic Roughton Herbert Smith Freehills Boies Schiller & Flexner Public International Law International Arbitration Thomas Williams Curtis Mallet-Prevost Boodle Hatfield Commercial Litigation Ian Hargreaves King & Wood Mallesons Covington & Burling Fraud Wendy Miles, QC Boies, Schiller & Flexner Debevoise & Plimpton International Arbitration Michelle Bradfield Dentons Dechert International Arbitration Richard Twomey Pinsent Masons DWF International Arbitration Anna Caddick Olswang Facebook Commercial Litigation Media Litigation

16 David Butler Ex Harneys Fox Williams Commercial Litigation Fraud Ben Morgan Serious Fraud Office Freshfields Corporate Crime Michael Darowski Hogan Lovells (Of Counsel) Gowling WLG International Arbitration Claire Lipworth FCA Hogan Lovells Financial Crime Financial Services Litigation Jason Yardley White & Case Jenner & Block Commercial Litigation Clarissa Coleman Addleshaw Goddard K&L Gates Commercial Litigation Martin Davies Quinn Emanuel Latham & Watkins Commercial Litigation Ian Felstead Olswang Latham & Watkins Commercial Litigation Media Litigation Andrew Wanambwa Ogier (BVS) Lewis Silkin Commercial Litigation Damian Watkin Jones Day (Of Counsel, Dubai) McDermott Will & Emery International Arbitration Nicola Bridge King & Wood Mallesons Mishcon de Reya Commercial Litigation Fraud Jo Rickards Kingsley Napley Mishcon de Reya Corporate Crime Genevieve Quierin Humphries Kerstetter Mishcon de Reya Banking Litigation Competition Litigation Chris Warren-Smith Norton Rose Fulbright Morgan Lewis Corporate Crime Melanie Ryan Norton Rose Fulbright Morgan Lewis Corporate Crime Simon Airey DLA Piper Paul Hastings Corporate Crime Susan Monty Simons Muirhead & Burton Seddons Fraud Financial Crime

17 David Pacey FCA Shoosmiths Josh Wong DLA Piper Signature Litigation Financial Services Litigation Commercial Litigation International Arbitration 10. Insurance/Reinsurance/Healthcare Ross Baker Bond Dickinson BLM Professional Indemnity Francis Mackie Weightmans Browne Jacobson Insurance Colin Peck Weightmans Browne Jacobson Insurance Gemma Brannigan Capsticks Clyde & Co Healthcare Rod Freeman Hogan Lovells Cooley Product Liability Frank Thompson K&L Gates Eversheds Sutherland Insurance Jane Weakley Irwin Mitchell Fieldfisher Personal Injury Neil Trayhurn Triton Global Hill Dickinson Insurance Dragos Stoica Triton Global Hill Dickinson Insurance Andrew Pieri Browne Jacobson Keoghs Insurance Naomi Vary Clyde & Co (Legal Director) Sedgwick Political Risk Paul Spibey Mills & Reeve Shakespeare Martineau Insurance Litigation Professional Indemnity

18 11. Shipping/Aviation Jim Morris Irwin Mitchell Ashfords Aviation Litigation Robin Hallam Hogan Lovells (Consultant) Bird & Bird (Consultant) Aviation Finance Rob Murphy Freshfields CDB Aviation Lease Finance Aviation Finance Robert Lawson QC Quadrant Chambers Clyde & Co Aviation Litigation Andreas Silcher TMS Cardiff Gas Haynes and Boone CDG Shipping William Coleman Freshfields (Counsel, Dubai) Holland & Knight Aviation Finance Victoria Koob Freshfields Holland & Knight Aviation Finance Philip Perrotta Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer K&L Gates Aviation Finance Sidanth Rajagopal Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer K&L Gates Aviation Finance Deug Rong Lee Clyde & Co Kennedys Shipping Litigation Dean Norton Clyde & Co Stephenson Harwood Ship Finance 12. Employment/Pensions Jane Kola Gowling WLG ARC Pensions Law Pensions Cerys Williams King & Wood Mallesons (Counsel) Brahams Dutt Badrick French Employment

19 Bob Cordran Marriott Harrison Dorsey & Whitney Employment Samantha Murray- Hinde Hewitson Moorhead Howard Kennedy Employment Juliet Carp Dorsey & Whitney (Special Counsel) Kingsley Napley Employment Daniella McGuigan DAC Beachcroft Ogletree Deakins Employment Marcus Fink Ashurst PwC Pensions Carolyn Brown Howard Kennedy RSM Legal LLP Employment Dan Schaffer Herbert Smith Freehills Slaughter and May Pensions Daniel Isaac Withers Wallace Employment 13. IP/TMT/Data Protection/Commercial Kate Brimsted Reed Smith Berwin Leighton Paisner Data Protection Andrew Danson K&L Gates Bird & Bird Gaming Robert Bond Charles Russell Speechlys Bristows Data Protection Simon Clark Berwin Leighton Paisner Bristows IP Ian De Freitas Berwin Leighton Paisner Farrer & Co IP Alan Meneghetti Locke Lord Katten Muchin Rosenman Commercial Christopher Hayes IBB Solicitors Lewis Silkin IP IP Litigation Alex Denoon Denoon Legal Marriott Harrison Lifesciences

20 Julian Hitchcock Denoon Legal Marriott Harrison Lifesciences Arty Rajendra Rouse Legal Osborne Clarke IP Litigation Mark Foreman Rouse Legal Osborne Clarke Trade Marks Kate Macmillan Collyer Bristow PwC Data Protection Andrew Giverin Radiant Law PwC Technology Jason McQuillen Radiant Law PwC Technology Bill Molloy Fasken Martineau Shoosmiths Technology IT Litigation Michael Burdon Olswang Simmons & Simmons Patent Litigation Tony Morris Marriott Harrison Swan Turton Chris Hanson DLA Piper Wiggin IP Media Media Film Finance 14. Competition Peter Harper Allen & Overy Eversheds Sutherland Competition Scott Campbell Stewarts Law Hausfeld & Co Competition Litigation Kenny Henderson Covington & Burling (Of Counsel) Stewarts Law Competition Litigation

21 15. Private Client/Family Anthony Thompson Gowling WLG Forsters Private Client Catharine Bell Gowling WLG Forsters Private Client Nicholas Jacob Gowling WLG Forsters Private Client Daniel Ugur Gowling WLG Forsters Private Client Ian Cook 1 King s Bench Walk Irwin Mitchell Family Marilyn McKeever Berwin Leighton Paisner (Associate Director) New Quadrant Partners Private Client 16. Tax Mark Brailsford Osborne Clarke (Senior Consultant) Berwin Leighton Paisner Finance Tax Andy Brown PwC Bird & Bird (non-lawyer) Tax Litigation Julian Balson PwC (Associate) Bird & Bird Tax Litigation David Adler McDermott Will & Emery Bryan Cave Tax Michael McCormack Cooley DAC Beachcroft Tax Fiona Walkinshaw Ex Deloitte Enyo Law Tax Litigation Neal Todd Berwin Leighton Paisner Fladgate Tax Daniel Lewin Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer MJ Hudson Tax

22 Liesl Fichardt Clifford Chance Quinn Emanuel Tax Litigation Jeremy Cape Dentons Squire Patton Boggs Tax Mergers/Office Openings Norton Rose Fulbright and Chadbourne & Parke are merging in the second quarter of Chadbourne has global revenues of 163m, while Norton Rose Fulbright s global revenue is in the region of $1.156bn. GQ Employment Law, a UK 16-partner boutique employment firm, is joining US law firm Littler Mendelson. The 1,200-lawyer firm now boasts one of the largest specialist employment practices in Europe. The shipping practice of Swinnerton Moore joined Hill Dickinson in February Founding partners Tony Swinnerton and Lewis Moore have joined Hill Dickinson s City office. UK-based Euclid Law, a boutique competition law specialist, has merged with Brussels-based Edge Legal. Smaller City firm Maxwell Winward and national firm Mills & Reeve merged in March Browne Jacobson is set to merge with construction and insurance law firm Beale and Company, a deal that will create a UK top 50 firm with turnover of 82m. Kennedys is set to merge with US insurance firm Carroll McNulty & Kull on the 1 st June, becoming Kennedys CMK.