An energy finance specialist, Mr Balsdon joined Anglo-Australian firm HSF from Clifford Chance in 2002. His departure to Latham & Watkins is the latest in a string of exits from HSF and will re-unite him former colleague and HSF corporate partner Simon Tysoe, who joined Latham & Watkins last year as co-head of the firm’s energy, oil and gas industry group. Partners Robert Merrick and Anna Howell will continue to co-head HSF’s global energy group following Mr Balsdon’s departure.

Hiring spree

Vice-chair of Latham’s executive committee David Gordon commented: ‘John’s arrival will bolster our standing as one of the elite global energy and power firms… He is a strong practice builder and he will play a key role in the continued expansion of our energy capability in London and globally.’ Latham & Watkins has picked up several other high-profile partners from City rivals this year, including former Ashurst partners Rob Moulton and Simon Baskerville, former Slaughter and May head of structured finance Sanjev Warna-kula-suriya, and former Allen & Overy banking partner Stephen Kensell.

Sources: Legal Business; Legal Week