Field Fisher and Dentons recruits reinforce IT law

Two City firms, Field Fisher Waterhouse and Denton Hall, are appointing new partners to bolster their information technology and telecomms departments.

Field Fisher has recruited Michael Chissick to plug the gap left by February's defection of IT specialist Ranald Robertson to Taylor Joynson Garret. Chissick, a lawyer specialising in IT and telecommunications, has been running boutique firm Nelson Chissick & Benger in London for the past year.

Denton Hall has appointed John Worthy to its growing media and technology group. Worthy was previously at Allen & Overy.

He will work in areas that span electronic banking and satellite communications as well as IT.

Chissick is taking his practice with him to Field Fisher. Previously, he worked for Hammond Suddards and Coudert Brothers.

His appointment brings Field Fisher's technology and intellectual property department up to 12. And senior partner John Nelson-Jones does not rule out the possibility that the division will expand further.

He said that the firm's latest annual figures show a healthy increase in fee income and profits.

"We are in a very happy period," added Nelson-Jones.

Field Fisher has advised the Government on bringing Her Majesty's Stationary Office, the Property Services Agency and South West Trains into private ownership.

The practice also has a thriving commercial property department which has recently won several new clients quoted on the London Stock Exchange.

Nelson-Jones said the recruitment of Chissick is a bonus because "Michael is actively involved at the cutting edge of the IT and telecomms at a time when the two areas are becoming more interlinked".