Forsters targets Middle East, Africa with Radcliffes capture

The appointment is expected to catapult the firm into the Middle East and Africa high-net-worth ­sector, where the firm is ­currently lacking a presence.

“We’re trying to broaden the private client practice,” managing partner Paul Roberts told The Lawyer. “Two years ago we took on Patrick [Harney] as a ­partner from Withers’ New York office.

“With this appointment it’s fair to say we’re looking at the Middle East and Africa. Kelly is someone we’ve known for a long time and we see this as a ­fabulous appointment.”

Having added three new partners to the practice during the summer, ­including former Withers partners Andrew Lane and Craigie Pearson, Roberts said the firm was now ­looking to balance out its ­leverage.

Radcliffes appointed ­partner Simon Goldring as head of private client in March.