WilmerHale has hired two senior partners in London to restock its disputes bench.
Jeremy Kosky has joined after 36 years at Clifford Chance as head of the US firm's London disputes practice, while Charlie Lightfoot has joined the international arbitration practice from Cooley.
Their hire follows eight arbitration partners defecting to King & Spalding over the summer across the US and UK, led by renowned New York practitioner Gary Born. Five partners moved over in London – Steven Finizio, Jonathan Lim, Franz Schwarz, Marleen Krueger and Charlie Caher.
WilmerHale said Kosky and Lightfoot reflected "continued investment in the growth of our London office."
“Jeremy and Charlie are exceptional litigators who bring experience handling the very kind of matters our clients need us for: complex, high-stakes disputes that span markets and jurisdictions,” said Anjan Sahni, WilmerHale’s managing partner.
“London is a critical part of [our] global platform, and we are investing with conviction in its future. Charlie and Jeremy reflect our commitment to give clients in the UK and across Europe the depth of trial and disputes capability they have come to expect from WilmerHale," he added.
Kosky’s arrival, the firm said, would boost its ability to support clients in complex commercial claims in London, focusing on high-value complex commercial litigation for public and private companies, private capital sponsors, financial institutions, family offices and corporate boards. That represents an important distinction from Born’s era, when WilmerHale’s arbitration practice held a distinct primacy within the disputes practice.
Kosky wrote on LinkedIn his was "to lead a strong and deeply collaborative disputes practice. We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our clients as they navigate their most complex, high-stakes and business-critical challenges. We will represent them with creativity and relentless commitment while maintaining the highest of ethical standards.
Clifford Chance thanked Kosky for his contributions and wished him well.
Lightfoot, meanwhile, adds senior international arbitration experience, with WilmerHale noting demand for advocacy, arbitration and expertise in public international law was “in great demand”.
He has 25 years of experience representing companies and states in international disputes across sectors like defence, energy, and life sciences. He acts as an advocate in arbitration and the High Court and also serves as an arbitrator.
Lightfoot leaves Cooley after three years, where he chaired that firm’s global arbitration practice from London, having been a partner at Jenner & Block for eight years and White & Case for five years before that.
He said: “I am excited to help grow the London office and work with colleagues across the firm globally on the most complex matters in our field,” adding, on LinkedIn, that he “couldn’t be more thrilled” to join WilmerHale.
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