CC ups ante on US practice as Cornell moves to New York

Clifford Chance management has signalled its frustration with the progress of the US practice by relocating managing partner Peter Cornell to the New York office.

He will work with US managing partner John Carroll in reshaping the US business along more profitable lines.

Cornell’s move, which will take place next week, comes in the wake of a series of aggressive cost-cutting moves by the firm. Last year it hived off much of its expensively acquired California practice as well as its Berlin office.

Cornell told The Lawyer: “I’ve worked with these guys a lot and I haven’t been close enough to New York to bring about the changes we all want.

"Perhaps it can be, in the best sense of the word, a Clifford Chance office and they can feel part of the rest of the business.”