Martyn Hopper is reportedly set to join the magic circle firm’s London office as a partner at an unconfirmed date, according to The Lawyer.

Neither Linklaters or Herbert Smith would comment on the move but, according to the newspaper, it is understood that the news was announced internally at Herbert Smith.

Merger

The news follows the earlier departure of former Tokyo managing partner Steve Lewis who left to join Bingham in the same week that the firm gave the go-ahead to a merger deal with Sydney-based firm Freehills.

The firm also lost another high profile member of the contentious regulatory team, Peter Burrell, to US firm Wilkie Farr & Gallagher three years earlier.

Contentious issues

Meanwhile Herbert Smith and Freehills have today announced the opening of a New York office as well as further hires.

The US office, which will initially operate as Herbert Smith New York, will become part of the Herbert Smith Freehills' international network on 1 October.

The office is designed to offer global assistance to international clients with US-related contentious issues.