Allen & Overy (A&O) has raided Herbert Smith’s Paris office for a three-partner litigation team headed by French dispute resolution chief Denis Chemla.
Chemla joins A&O along with fellow partners Michael Young and Erwan Poisson, who specialise in arbitration and litigation respectively.
The news comes less than a month after Herbert Smith promoted Chemla to the role of head of litigation for Continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The hires are a significant coup for A&O and will expand upon the firm’s existing competition and IP litigation expertise in Paris. Chemla and Poisson both act on banking disputes, with Chemla also advising on regulatory and white-collar crime issues.
Young specialises in international arbitration, particularly in the energy, chemicals and natural resources sectors. Young was a partner in Herbert Smith’s London office for three years before relocating to Paris five years ago.
A&O’s global litigation head Tim House said the team added “immeasurably” to the litigation offering for both France and Europe. Previously the firm had no dedicated partners focusing on banking and finance or arbitration in Paris.
He told The Lawyer A&O would be aiming to pick up instructions on disputes from some of the firm’s biggest existing financial institution clients, including French banks like Société Générale, BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole. The expanded team would also seek to advise major French corporates on issues including bribery, corruption, corporate governance and M&A disputes.
The trio’s joining date is yet to be decided. House added that A&O hoped to build up a team of associates around the three new partners.
The appointments continue a busy period for lateral hires in Paris. A&O picked up M&A partner Marc Castagnède from Debevoise & Plimpton in March 2011.
A spokesperson for Herbert Smith said: “We’re disappointed particularly given the strong year our Paris and global disputes practices have otherwise had – both practices have real strength in depth and we have every confidence that they’ll bounce back from this.”
Readers' comments (1)
Anonymous | 7-Jun-2011 7:59 pm
Economical Paradigm rises, with a opportunity on Litigation
By, looking at the long term, strategic view of hiring a partner, from France within these frustration of economical period, with a, ongoing economic turmoil had had effected "The Business World" would be a, potential advantage for, a law firm as, Allen & Overy!
Overall, within the ‘gloom and doom' world, with a un – stability “Anatomy of Deals" however, not to be forgotten, law firm's as, Allen & Overy, not only, just have survived, but have thrived the economical impact of recession. Hence, the Global Business World, shown its effect from the Banking Crisis of “Lehman Brothers” and “Northern Rock” and the emerging ‘World Stock Markets’ that collaborated the, 'Global Stock Markets' around the world, with a failure in Financial Sector.
Hence, in United States of America, regulatory framework had shown an implication, with their rules by, implying "DOD FRANK CLAUSE" in order to have an effective control on the Banking system. Therefore, for Banks in order to, re- assure, the immense on debacle impact, from further fiscal economical crises, which may effect the future of US Banks around the world.
Although, within these, difficult emerging economical markets, the remark of hiring a calibre employees would be, “Battle for best people” would be a ideal prospect to, show a knowledge off, understanding the “French Markets” in the litigation stream of France!
Overall, it’s another strength of skills and experience of understanding the restrictive legislation in France and another incorporation, to the team, with their, "recent hirer of ‘Litigation Partner’ from Germany, to enhance the understanding the, corporate enterprise systems in Germany.
Although, Germany’s support to reassure the markets for, 'European Union' and the 'International Monetary Fund' to bail-out Greece, of rescuing package may enhance the private investors, to volatile the Markets for, opportunities to rise a, stream of business with a stability, for, long term transaction.
Great success, for, A&O with an adaptable form to exploit changes within Capital World of economical paradigm opportunities for, future ‘Deals’.
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