Bird & Bird IT partner flies nest for Osbornes

Osborne Clarke has boosted its growing London IT practice with the poaching of a partner from IT specialist Bird & Bird.

Rory Graham joined Osbornes on 1 July. He will continue his work as a specialist commercial legal adviser to suppliers and users of services in IT and telecommunications, digital media and large-scale outsourcing.

Graham said he had not thought of leaving Bird & Bird, where he became a partner four years ago, until he was approached by a headhunter. He had then found Osbornes "determined, friendly, bigger and with a real buzz about the place".

Osbornes managing partner Leslie Perrin said Graham was "highly rated" and of a quality "rarely" found.

The reputation of Osbornes' IT practice has been growing due to its policy of laterally hiring partners.

Graham follows in the footsteps of former Titmuss Sainer Dechert partner in charge of IT Paul Gardner, who joined in February and former SJ Berwin partner in charge of IT David Schollenberger, who joined in January.

Russell Bowyer, partner in charge of IT at Frere Cholmeley Bischoff, whose departure to Osbornes was announced in March, is due to join the firm this month.

Bird & Bird communications law partner David Kerr said Graham was a "well-known, good lawyer". He added that the firm's ten-partner communications department was "going through a huge growth surge".