London-based litigation boutique Pallas Partners has grown in New York with the hire of a commercial litigation partner from Gibson Dunn & Crutcher along with two associates from other firms.

Shireen Brady has joined as Pallas’ second partner in New York, where the firm opened last autumn just months after launching in London when former Boies Schiller Flexner (BSF) deputy chair Natasha Harrison led a mass defection from the high-profile US firm's City arm.

Also joining are commercial litigation associates John McAdams and Mark Davies, who were previously at New York litigation boutique Cyrulnik Fattaruso and Cravath Swaine & Moore respectively. 

“[Barday’s] experience in complex commercial litigation, alongside her excellent track record and growing practice, complements our client offering and will add significant value to the firm as we grow our presence in New York,” said Harrison, who serves as Pallas’ managing partner. “We are thrilled to welcome Shireen together with John and Mark, and very much look forward to working with them.”

Barday spent four years as a litigation partner at Gibson Dunn before joining Pallas, prior to which she was a partner in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis.

She has served as principal in a range of complex commercial litigation matters, with a focus on business disputes involving fiduciary duties and allegations of fraud or other misconduct. She has particular experience in counselling life science and biotech companies in connection with disputes relating to milestone payments, royalties and commercially reasonable and best efforts.

In New York, Barday will work alongside commercial litigation partner Duane Loft, who noted she would help to raise Pallas’ profile with new clients. 

Loft left BSF last September alongside two counsel and an associate to open Pallas’ New York office, which the firm said at the time was born out of a ‘crucial’ need to provide clients with a meaningful transatlantic presence and would focus on its core strengths including high-stakes litigation, international arbitration and investigations in the financial services sector.

Meanwhile, since the departure of Harrison and her team, BSF has been replenishing its London bench with partner hires from Locke Lord and Swiss disputes firm Lalive and now has four partners and three associates in the city.

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