Jeffrey Stern, the New York-based head of structured products, has already joined Winston & Strawn. Resignations to Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman have also been handed in by Stephen Jurgenson - Abu Dhabi managing partner - and London-based James Simpson who was the co-head of energy, infrastructure and projects.

Department heads

Winston & Strawn had wanted to make the announcement about the whole group - totalling up to 15 lawyers - but has been slowed down as some partners are still in the process of resigning. The group, according to a Winston source quoted in Legal Business, is composed of 'mainly partners, and mostly heads of departments'. 

Fact of life

Pillsbury said in a statement: 'While Pillsbury has had excellent partner retention in recent years, it is nevertheless a fact of life that partners come and go at all firms. We are very sorry to see any partner leave us. We wish these partners nothing but the best in their new endeavor.' Source: Legal Business