After 22 years with the firm, finance partner Stephen Kensell is saying goodbye to Allen & Overy to take up a position at rival Latham & Watkins. Widely renowned as one of the most senior banking lawyers in the City, Mr Kensell has co-headed the A&O banking group since 2008 and was a frontrunner in the firm’s senior partner race earlier this year. The post was eventually won by former managing partner Wim Dejonghe, who assumed the role on 1 May.

A leading creditor-side lawyer in the London bank finance market, Mr Kensell has built a career advising clients on a variety of events-driving financing, with particular expertise in leveraged, investment-grade M&A and IPO related finance. He is the latest in a string of high-profile partner hires at Latham this year, including financial regulatory partner Rob Moulton and restructuring partner Simon Baskerville (both formerly of Ashurst) and international arbitration partner Sophie Lamb, who was recruited from Debevoise & Plimpton in May.

Sources: The Lawyer; Legal Business