Linklaters fills its boots as magic circle rivals give up talent

Linklaters is positively gorging itself on its magic circle rivals at the moment.

As revealed exclusively today on www.thelawyer.com, Linklaters is hiring young private equity star Ian Bagshaw from Clifford Chance - and with him gaining footholds in Candover and Blackstone. It virtually guarantees Linklaters a shout every time Clifford Chance gets conflicted out.

Bagshaw is joining his old mate Richard Youle, who decided to stay behind when Graham White and Raymond McKeeve jumped ship to Kirkland last year.

It's Linklaters' third magic circle hire in a week. First there was Freshfields banking star David Ereira. Then there was Davide Mencacci from Allen & Overy in Milan. It's starting to look like gluttony.