Hawkes to LeBoeufs in Belgium

FORMER SJ Berwin & Co partner Len Hawkes has joined the Brussels office of US firm LeBoeuf Lamb Green & McRae only months after quitting as Berwin's resident partner in the city.

Hawkes, who started with LeBoeufs on 3 January, left the three-lawyer SJ Berwin office in Brussels at the end of September. Neither he nor the firm will comment on the reasons behind the split.

Originally practising as a barrister in the UK and Belgium, Hawkes, who started with SJ Berwin in 1990, requalified as a solicitor in 1993.

He says the switch to LeBoeufs will provide an opportunity to continue his European Community work.

His new role as "of counsel" and head of LeBoeuf's European telecomms practice is believed to be the first step toward partnership with the New York-based firm.

"In the first stage I'm here of counsel - effectively as an adviser to the firm. Partnership is in my plan and I hope the firm has the same thought," says Hawkes.

"I have some very able and experienced colleagues to work with in the US and this firm has a very strong and pre-eminent regulatory practice, particularly working for utilities in other areas, notably in the energies field.

"Brussels is the right place to be to carry out that work, particularly when the process of telecomms liberalisation is still gaining speed."