BLP nabs Herbies private client star

Rupert Ticehurst, a ­personal tax and trusts ­specialist, will join BLP’s London team, which is led by Jonathan ­Kropman.

Herbert Smith has two other senior lawyers who serve the private client field in white-collar crime partner Robert Hunter and ­consultant John Wood, but it has a stated aim to expand its emerging markets coverage through beefing up its private client capability (The Lawyer, 8 November 2010).

While it is understood that Ticehurst was not an equity partner at Herbert Smith, he will join the ­equity at BLP. The entry point for equity at the latter is ­significantly lower than at ­Herbert Smith.

Last year the bottom rung of BLP’s equity ladder was worth £208,000 compared with £440,000 at Herbert Smith.

The hire is part of BLP’s decision to invest in a full-service tax practice, catalysed by the hire of Clifford Chance partner Michael Wistow as head of tax in 2007.

Kropman said: “Rupert’s appointment, coming ­shortly after the launch of our South East Asia private client ­practice based in Singapore, is a key step in the development of our trusts and ­personal tax practice.”