Ex-Simmons head Dawkins defects to Bingham
Bingham McCutcheon has scooped former Simmons & Simmons managing partner Mark Dawkins for its London financial institutions litigation group.
Mark Dawkins
Dawkins stepped down as managing partner in April 2011 after two terms in the role. He was beaten to Simmons’ senior partner position by fellow litigator Colin Passmore in a contested election later that month.
Bingham’s litigation co-head Robert Dombroff said building up the firm’s financial institutions litigation practice in London was among its highest priorities.
London managing partner James Roome added that Dawkins was a “great strategic fit” for the firm.
In a statement Dawkins said he wanted to return to full-time fee-earning. “The opportunity to join and build upon Bingham’s successful financial institutions litigation practice was too good to miss,” he said.
A spokesperson for Simmons & Simmons said: “We would like to thank Mark for the significant contribution he made to Simmons & Simmons during his 28 years here, and wish him well at his new firm.”
Readers' comments (4)
Anonymous | 27-Jun-2011 4:56 pm
After 28 years, one could say that’s institutionalisation. Yet Dawkins moves to a USA law firm where workplace cultures are renowned as being more aggressive?
Not sure if he felt he deserved senior partner status and losing out to Colin Passmore caused him frustration, hence leading to his resignation.
Or, if going up against prominent Simmons & Simmons talent in an internal vote was a wise and strategic career move. Considering his second term saw turnover and PEP fall significantly, I think it was an uphill battle to maintain peer confidence and reinstatement.
However, given that 25% of his 28 year tenure was as managing partner, I’m really not sure what else he wants to prove.
I hope he finds happiness in his new challenges.
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Anonymous | 27-Jun-2011 6:15 pm
After many worldwide departures from Simmons & Simmons, the kiss of death from his former managing partner....
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Anonymous | 28-Jun-2011 8:28 am
I will be surprised if Simmons haven't lined up a US merger by the end of this year.
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Anonymous | 28-Jun-2011 4:42 pm
Merger is always a bad thing during trouble time.
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