Sidley Austin has recruited CMS’s TMT head, Clive Gringras, the latest in a string of partner hires for the US firm’s London office. 

Gringras has joined Sidley’s commercial litigation and disputes practice having spent his entire career at CMS and predecessor firm Olswang, where he made partner in 2000. 

Gringras is recognised as a leading contentious, AI and transactional tech lawyer representing global 100 companies. His practice focuses on bet-the-company litigation and technology-rich cross-border transactions, including advising on regulatory investigations and litigation, antitrust and a range of AI and cyber issues.

“Clive is a known leader in helping our existing clients in the technology sector navigate through complex regulatory issues and investigations, including the cutting-edge legal developments in AI,” said Yvette Ostolaza, chair of Sidley’s management committee and executive committee member. 

“As regulators increase their enforcement powers from rapidly evolving technology laws, we anticipate more of our clients seeking the highest level of strategic legal advice from Sidley’s global platform across four continents,” she added. 

Gringras is the latest in a run of partner hires for Sidley’s London office. Just last week the firm recruited Latham’s London finance co-head, Tania Bedi, having hired a team of five sponsor-side leveraged finance partners led by Jayanthi Sadanandan and Sam Hamilton and high-yield duo Scott Colwell and Patrick Kwak from Latham earlier in the year. 

Sidley plans to further grow the office through hires across capital markets, high yield and dispute and investigations, as well as further growth in private equity, Legal Business reported. 

The firm’s London office has also seen senior exits this year, including restructuring co-heads Mark Knight and Jifree Cader’s move to Davis Polk to launch a restructuring practice in London. M&A partner Phil Cheveley also joined Covington & Burling last month, just a few months after partners Lyndsey Laverack and Jade Williams-Adedeji left to join Covington’s EMEA private equity team.