BLP nabs Ashurst construction boss

It has not yet been decided when Marc Hanson will join BLP, but a period of ­gardening leave is said to be unlikely. Hanson joined Ashurst in 2006 from CMS Cameron McKenna, where he also led the non-contentious construction group.

Hanson will replace ­partner John Hughes-D’Aeth ­as head of BLP’s non-­contentious engineering, construction and ­procurement practice, while Bob Maynard will continue to lead the nine-partner group on the contentious side. Hughes-D’Aeth will remain at the firm to focus on client work.

Hanson advises clients on procurement strategy and the drafting and negotiation of construction documentation for projects, notably with regard to real estate. At Ashurst he was relationship partner for Westfield, along with real estate ­partner Hugh Lumby.

Last week Ashurst lost securities and structured finance partner Alice Yurke to Jones Day in New York (The Lawyer, 28 September).

The Lawyer recently reported (8 August) that 17 partners moved down Ashurst’s lockstep in the last financial year, while 19 ­partners moved up to the 65-point plateau at the beginning of 2010-11.