Dewey chair relocates to City as part of top-level revamp

New York partner Steve Davis is transferring to the City office, with the firm forming a five-person leadership ground comprising practice heads.

Restructuring head Martin Bienenstock, corporate co-head Rich Shutran and litigation chief Jeffrey Kessler all join the new team alongside Washington DC head Charles Landgraf, who also runs the legislative and public policy group. All four practice heads except Landgraf are New York-based.

The move follows a number of departures in the US and London, with Houston managing partner Sean Gorman leaving for Ahmad Zavitsanos Anaipakos Alavi & Mensing (27 March 2012), six New York insurance partners quitting to join Sutherland Asbill & Brennan (26 March 2012) and 12 partners - including a London pair - joining Willkie Farr & Gallagher (19 March 2012).

It also emerged last week that the firm had hired a top crisis manager to deal with the situation (23 March 2012).

The US firm has confirmed that it is reducing its lawyer headcount globally (5 March 2012).