Finland
The Finnish Bar Association has a new President. Borenius partner Risto Sipila has been elected to head up the association which is responsible for regulating some 2000 members. As President, Mr Sipila is planning to focus on, among other issues, the improvement of the expertise of the judiciary. ‘I consider it important that the companies’ and citizens’ trust in the administration of justice will be further improved,’ he said. ‘One solution for achieving this goal is to increase the judges’ level of expertise for instance in commercial disputes.’
UK
DAC Beachcroft international senior partner Danny Gowan is to retire from the firm. He will be succeeded by insurance partner Nick Young. The firm has also appointed three other partners to the board. Dublin head Katie da Gama, Madrid managing partner Pablo Wesolowski and Leeds senior partner Virginia Clegg join the board.
Radcliffes-LeBrasseur tax and private client chief Simon Goldring is saying goodbye to his old partnership to join forces with Trowers & Hamlins. Goldring partnered up with Radcliffes-LeBrasseur when he joined the firm in 2008. Before that, he was a sole practitioner. In 2009, he became head of tax and private client. He will now take on the role as head of private wealth for Trowers & Hamlins.
Stewarts Law recently acquired Mo Bhaskaran as a partner and head of commercial litigation in its Leeds office from the firm Pinsent Masons. At Pinsent Masons, Bhaskaran made a name for himself by specializing in fraud and corruption investigations as well complex commercial disputes.
Europe
French firm Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier has hired a tax team from Jones Day in Paris. European tax head Vincent Agulhon joins the firm as a partner along with two other lawyers.
The Paris office of Dentons has lost two lawyers to US firm Bryan Cave. Litigation head Constantin Achillas joins the firm as does financial services lawyer Jean-Norbert Pontier.
Bird & Bird has appointed an IT/IP partner in Poland. Malgorzata Darowska, who was head of Denton’s intellectual property and technology practice for two years, has more than 13 years experience.
US
Nixon Peabody has chosen a new head for its San Francisco office. Anthony Barron takes over from Paul Schrier who managed the office for the past seven years. Mr Barron will combine his commercial litigation practice with the managing partner role.
US employment firm FordHarrison has joined the global employment alliance Ius Laboris.The firm, which has more than 20 offices in the US, joins the law firm alliance which has over 1300 lawyers based in 42 countries. FordHarrison co-managing partner Herb Gerson said of the link-up: ‘Based on the growing need of our clients for assistance outside the US, we are tremendously enthusiastic about this opportunity and the increased resources that will be available to them.’
Australia
Slater & Gordon took on not only one but two senior managers. Luke Short and Karen Simpson will both be made general managers in Queensland practice, moving up from their practice group positions in the Brisbane office. Simpson focuses on workers compensation and personal injury practice. Short made his mark on family and relationship law throughout Australia.
Asia
Allen & Overy Tokyo managing partner Aled Davies has defected to US firm Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy. Mr Davies, who specialises in project finance, has worked in Tokyo for 17 years as well as heading up the project finance Asia Pacific team. Simon Black will take over the Allen & Overy role.
K&L Gates has recruited an ex Whilte & Case partner Virginia Tam for its Hong Kong office. Ms Tam specializes in merger and acquisitions, private equity and IPOs. The firm has also appointed Sacha Cheong to its Hong Kong office and IP lawyer Soheui Choe to its Seoul office
Macau law firm MdME has added a new partner to its office. Beatriz Segorbe, who specializes in corporate, banking and finance and gaming work, joins the firm as a partner.
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