Addleshaws raids DLA for planning dept chief

DLA Piper partner Marnix Elsenaar joins Addleshaws’ City office and replaces Douglas Evans, who left to join the Infrastructure Planning Commission at the end of 2009.

Adrian Collins, who heads the firm’s real estate practice, said: “Marnix’s appointment demonstrates to clients our commitment to building a market-leading real estate capability, with genuine strength in depth across the core disciplines.”

The firm has also hired Herbert Smith associate Dominic O’Brien as a banking partner as part of its plan to build a specialist capability in Islamic finance.

O’Brien joins the firm’s City office as a partner. His appointment comes shortly after the hire of banking partner Claire Denison, who joined the firm from White & Case in February.