DLA Piper's funds head quits for Simmons & Simmons

David Williams, who joined DLA Piper in 2007, is set to join Simmons & Simmons as a partner in the London financial services team. Williams focuses on investment funds and asset management work.

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Williams was an associate at Maples and Calder and before that an associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

In a statement, Simmons’ asset management and investment funds head Colin Leaver said: “David has an excellent reputation in the market and will help us build our offering in closed-ended private funds.”

The hire comes as Simmons has added asset management and investment funds to its list of core sectors, following the creation of its latest three-year business plan (28 March 2012). Under the new plan, Simmons will continue to focus on its list of core sectors  - energy and infrastructure, life sciences, TMT, financial services and now investment funds – while putting extra emphasis on partner performance.

The firm has also announced plans to open a low-cost base in Bristol (3 April 2012).