Mr Thomas is making the switch to Freshfields after almost 17 years with Eversheds, where has served as head of the firm’s international arbitration group since 2013. The new role will see Mr Thomas move back to Freshfields’ London office from Paris, where he has been working with Eversheds since 2001. However, the hire will go some distance to helping to rebuild Freshfields' depleted headcount in Paris, with Mr Thomas expected to work closely with the firm’s team in the French capital to help foster collaboration between the Paris and London offices. He will also be tasked with expanding the London presence of Freshfields’ public international law practice, which is currently being captained by Paris-based partner Ben Juratowitch.

Paris rebuild

Freshfields’ Paris office is still recovering from a string of partner exits earlier this year. In April, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe poached a group from the firm consisting of Paris employment head Emmanuel Benard, finance partners Herve Touraine and Emmanuel Ringevale, and corporate partner Patrick Tardivy. On Eversheds’ side, Mr Thomas is the third senior arbitration partner to exit the firm in the last 12 months, following the departures of Andy Moody to Baker & McKenzie and Stuart Dutson to Simmons & Simmons.

Sources: The Lawyer; Legal Business