CC West Coast lawyers follow partners to Orrick

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe has topped its mass hire of Clifford Chance West Coast partners by taking on the bulk of the firm’s associates and staff.

Orrick has recruited 16 associates and another 18 staff who will join the eight partners who left Clifford Chance’s soon to shut San Francisco and Los Angeles offices a few weeks ago. Overall around 50 lawyers and staff will join Orrick.

It is understood that a handful of staff and lawyers remain at Clifford Chance on the West Coast, aside from the Palo Alto office which the magic circle firm is keeping on. At this point it is not clear if they will stay with the firm or relocate to another practice.

Included in Orrick’s haul of Clifford Chance partners is former co-head of the UK firm’s global securities group Mike Torpey. He will now head up Orrick’s securities litigation group.