Ashurst loses Edge to Stephenson Harwood

Edge was one of the key contacts for Ashurst’s Rusal relationship, acting on the Russian metals company’s £2bn listing on the Hong Kong exchange earlier this year, as well as the $30bn merger with Sual and Glencore in 2006.

Edge became a partner at Ashurst in 2002, having joined the City firm 17 years ago.

The departure follows the retirement of Ashurst corporate partner David Kershaw earlier this year. Kershaw, along with senior partner Charlie Geffen, was also an important part of Ashurst’s Rusal relationship and was another key player in the company’s tripartite merger (9 October 2006 - http://www.thelawyer.com/ashurst-and-linklaters-scoop-mammoth-russian-merger/122250.article).

Ashurst has maintained that Geffen is the firm’s primary contact for Rusal, although it is not yet clear whether it will bring more partners in to bolster that relationship.

Stephenson Harwood has already made a number of lateral hires this year, with Ashurst finance partner Nick Avery, Denton Wilde Sapte’s corporate trusts head Jayesh Patel and Holman Fenwick Willan commodities partner Peter Bennett all making the move since January.

Edge’s hire takes the total number of corporate partners at the firm to 17.

Stephenson Harwood chief executive Sharon White said: “Andrew is a highly respected figure in the market and his extensive skills further enhance our ability to provide excellent corporate services to our clients.  In addition his good relationships with a wide range of corporates is highly attractive to us.”

Edge added: “Stephenson Harwood has an excellent reputation for strong corporate work and provides the support to deliver a top-quality service to existing and potential clients. I look forward to developing my practice and contributing my experience and expertise as the Stephenson Harwood practice continues to grow.”