Mr Roughton will be replaced in his role at HSF by New York partner Laurence Shore, who will be assisted by partners Christian Leathley and Andrew Cannon. The move means that in the past year, more than 20 partners have left the Anglo-Australian firm across London and Asia-Pacific - including London global energy co-head John Balsdon, who left for Latham & Watkins, advocacy head Ian Gatt QCwho went to Stewarts Law, London finance partner Nick Bradbury to Allen & Overy, and Malcolm Hitching to Ropes & Gray.

Energy specialist

Mr Roughton specialises in the energy and mining sectors with experience of international boundary disputes, sovereignty, treaty negotiations and interpretation and investor state dispute resolution procedures. His hire follows the departure last month of Wendy Miles QC, who left Boies Schiller to join Debevoise & Plimpton as a partner in its global international dispute resolution group.

Further depth

Boies Schiller London head Natasha Harrison said: “Dominic’s hire adds further depth to our international arbitration offering and international disputes practice in London. He is an absolute leader in the field, and his specialisation in public international law is hugely beneficial as we are undertaking an increasing amount of work in that space.”

High profile

Since forming in 1997, Boies Schiller has taken on a number of high-profile cases in the US, with chairman David Boies representing Al Gore in the dispute surrounding the 2000 presidential election, while other high profile clients include Terra Firma chief Guy Hands. In 2015, the firm’s revenue reached £264 million ($380 million).