Mr Lawes is leaving behind law firm life to become managing director in financial advisory at Lazards from 9 January. His move into the world of investment banking follows in the footsteps of former Freshfields colleague Mark Rawlinson, who left the firm to join Morgan Stanley in October. Mr Lawes served as co-chair of Freshfields’ financial institutions group for six years until he was elected as senior partner in 2010. He resigned from the firm earlier this year after the appointment of new senior partner Edward Braham. He commented: ‘I have advised, worked alongside or across the table from [Lazard’s] bankers for many years, and I look forward to returning to serving clients with the benefit of the full resources of Lazard.’

Sources: Legal Business; Financial Times