Legal Business Blogs

Revolving doors: Winston & Strawn, Withers, Dentons make key City hires, Clydes recruits lateral down under

While Paul Hastings stood out for its trifecta of high-profile lateral hires last week, Winston & Strawn, Withers and Clyde & Co have also added to their ranks.

Winston & Strawn hired two partners to bolster its practice in the City, adding corporate partner Paul Amiss from Pinsent Masons and finance specialist Rebecca Finn from Gide Loyrette Nouel. Commenting on the hires, Winston firmwide managing partner Tom Fitzgerald emphasised the importance of the London practice and said the firm would continue to grow through strategic lateral acquisitions.

Still in the City, Withers hired disputes lawyer Tatiana Menshenina as partner. Qualified to practise in both England and Wales, and Russia, Menshenina joins from Simmons & Simmons where she was counsel headed the its CIS practice.

Clyde & Co has added Norton Rose Fulbright partner Marcus O’Brien to its insurance team in Melbourne, to bring the number of partners in its Australia offering to 14. The firm’s Australian managing partner John Edmond said: ‘O’Brien will form the platform of our continued expansion of our insurance capability in Victoria’.

Moving the other way, Clydes corporate insurance partner Martin Mankabady has joined Dentons. The move follows Clydes’ review of its corporate practice in London, which led to the resignations of several partners.

Dentons UKMEA chief executive Jeremey Cohen said: ‘As London is one of the world’s most important insurance centres, Martin’s arrival represents an opportunity to develop a full-service global insurance practice by building on our market-leading position in both the US and Canada.’

Meanwhile, Trowers & Hamlins has hired Knights Solicitors partner Amanda Hanmore to launch a commercial property team in Birmingham. Hanmore joins during a time of growth for Trowers’ Birmingham office, which has hired four partners over the last 18 months.

Finally, Harbour Litigation Funding has hired Lloyds Banking Group general counsel for litigation, regulatory and competition Michael Hartridge. The former Morgan Stanley executive director who has also worked at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, will join the team as senior director of litigation funding.

Harbour’s head of litigation funding Susan Dunn said: ‘The doubling of the team in 12 months and the opening of the Hong Kong office, to take advantage of accelerating opportunities in Asia Pacific, is a formidable offer to any claimant with a good case who is keen to enhance their prospects of success with funding.’

victoria.young@legalease.co.uk