BLG's pre-merger exits continue as insurance duo quit for Ince
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert insurance partners Simon Cooper and Kiran Soar have defected to Ince & Co ahead of the firm’s merger with Clyde & Co.
Ince will also launch an international desk in the Lloyd’s of London building next month with the aim of capitalising on its strategy to target top end insurance work.
Chris Jefferis, global head of the firm’s insurance and reinsurance group, said: “Simon’s and Kiran’s appointments underline their own preferences for a firm with a focused team that is fully committed to providing high value advice to the market. Many of their clients are well known to us.”
As part of its deal with Clyde & Co BLG has agreed to reduce its 100-strong partnership by 15 and adopt the Clyde & Co brand (8 August 2011).
Norton Rose has appointed two BLG partners, head of marine, energy and trade Patrick Foss, and fellow marine insurance partner Chris Zavos, while financial services regulatory partner Chris Brennan has left to join Lloyds Banking Group.
Earlier this week it emerged that Holman Fenwick Willan is to launch in São Paulo - its first base in South America – on the back of its eight partner raid on BLG earlier this year (24 March 2011). Aviation partner Jeremy Shebson will launch HFW in Sao Paulo after the firm agreed to take over BLG’s office lease in the city hiring the two associates and one PA that are permanently based in the office (12 October 2011).
Readers' comments (5)
Anonymous | 13-Oct-2011 12:42 pm
With the merger agreement unsigned, it remains to be seen if anyone goes to Clydes.
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Ex BLG | 13-Oct-2011 2:04 pm
I received an email from Clydes formally announcing the merger a few days ago. I think it was intended for clients, so why I was included I don't know. If the merger document is unsigned, I can only imagine it is being held up by a few disgruntled BLG partners who are not being invited to join. I can't see them derailing the deal.
A separate point regards Ince. Why the office at lloyd's? Possibly because being at St Katherine's dock, Ince feel they are becoming a bit invisible to insurance clients? But offices at lloyd's are a net drain, as everyone who has ever tried will tell them.
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Anonymous | 13-Oct-2011 5:14 pm
Of the recent departees, although Soar and Sherratt were in the apparently maligned Reinsurance part of BLG, I have it on good authority that they are well regarded, as is very much the case with Foss and Zavos. Point is, I don't think these are people who are jumping before they were pushed, but rather some of the better Partners one would expect Clyde's to have been keen on bringing over. Interesting.
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Anonymous | 13-Oct-2011 6:04 pm
The most interesting move is Kiran Soar. He was a rising star and would presumably have been welcome at the new Clyde & Co. He will be sorely missed.
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Anonymous | 19-Oct-2011 3:42 pm
If only people knew.....
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