Latham has boosted its data and tech transactions bench in London with the hire of Travers Smith partner Richard Offord.
Offord has spent his entire career at Travers, where he made partner last year. He advises on the commercial, IP and technology aspects of M&A and private equity transactions, including carve-outs and joint ventures.
He also counsels clients, including the University of Oxford and wealth manager Brooks Macdonald, on contractual arrangements, including supply, outsourcing, brand licence, agency and franchising agreements.
Tom Evans, global vice chair of Latham’s corporate department, noted technology, AI, IP and regulatory issues are increasingly shaping transactions, with clients expecting those capabilities to be "seamlessly embedded" within their deal teams.
"Richard has experience that will serve our clients well and, with his combination of technical insight and industry knowledge, he will be a major asset to the team," Evans added.
At Latham, Offord will be part of the largest London team of any US firm, with around 530 lawyers, including approximately 140 in its top-tier M&A practice.
The office saw an unprecedented wave of partner exits in 2024 amid a heated lateral market for private equity and finance talent and Latham’s introduction of “super points” to reward top-billing rainmakers.
But it has since rebuilt its City ranks with key lateral hires, including a trio of real estate finance partners from A&O Shearman, who joined in January, and private equity partner Ross Allardice, who joined from White & Case last summer.
Offord's hire also follows Latham recruiting a trio of tech-focused M&A partners from Morrison Foerster in May, including MoFo's former London managing partner, Andrew Boyd, alongside Gary Brown and Luke Rowland. Brown previously served as co-head of the firm's European M&A practice.
Offord's move also marks the latest exit from Travers, which has seen five practice heads leave over the past 18 months.
Last month, planning head Jamie McKie moved over to Clyde & Co while competition chief Stephen Whitfield moved to legacy Taylor Wessing in March ahead of that firm’s merger with Winston & Strawn.
Pensions head Susie Daykin left for Pinsent Masons in January, and last year, tax head Russell Warren left for King & Spalding and leveraged finance head Matthew Ayre joined Goodwin.
A Travers spokesperson commented: "We would like to thank Richard for his contribution to our firm and wish him well in his new role."
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