Hume joins Kingsley Napley litigation dept

Leading fraud litigator John Hume is joining Kingsley Napley from the now defunct Ralph Hume Garry.

Hume is the last partner to find a home after the six partners at niche firm Ralph Hume decided to go their separate ways (The Lawyer, 26 February). Name partner Hume joined the specialist litigation and arbitration firm four years ago.

Previously, Hume, who qualified as a solicitor-advocate in 1995, was with Titmuss Sainer Dechert (now Dechert). He joined in 1970, making partnership three years later. In 1987 he became head of litigation, a role that he held until his departure.

Hume is recognised as one of the leading lights in fraud litigation, focusing in particular on Serious Fraud Office and Fraud Squad inquiries.

He has worked on cases involving a range of companies, including Blue Arrow, County NatWest, Atlantic Computers, ConsGold, Eurotunnel and Caradon.

Talks between Hume and Kingsley Napley began three months ago. Senior partner David Speker has known Hume for several years, and both Hume and Kingsley Napley worked on Blue Arrow in the early 1990s.

Kingsley Napley is one of the country's leading firms for criminal fraud and boasts some major players, including the lawyer of rogue trader Nick Leeson, Stephen Pollard. Its reputation in civil fraud, however, is not so strong.

Speker says: "[Hume's] talents and contacts will be a great help to the [litigation] department. We're particularly looking at expanding the work in the civil fraud and regulatory areas, and hopefully the Financial Services Authority as well."

Ralph Hume assistant Jane Weidemier joins Kingsley Napley alongside Hume.