CC New York reels after latest departure blow

The partner exodus at Clifford Chance’s New York office is gathering pace as its head of litigation and dispute resolution heads for Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison.

The departure of rainmaker Kenneth Gallo, announced internally yesterday evening (January 8), is a heavy blow for Clifford Chance which has seen a sustained stream of departures of big billing partners.

These include Gallo’s former anti-trust litigation colleagues Kevin Arquit and Steve Newborn who left for Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Weil Gotshal & Manges respectively.

Last year the firm’s head of intellectual property Leora Ben-Ami joined Kaye Scholer. Her departure followed IP partner Eric Lobenfeld who moved to Hogan & Hartson.

Clifford Chance declined to comment.