London hire boosts Shaw Pittman hopes of recovery

US firm Shaw Pittman has finally managed to secure a new partner in London as it seeks to recover from the raids that decimated the firm’s UK office in 2003.

Nabarro Nathanson technology, media and telecoms partner Andrew Smith will be reunited with Shaw Pittman’s London managing partner Alistair Maughan, who worked with Smith when the pair were at DLA.

“Shaw Pittman probably has the biggest IT practice in the world – and certainly the best. It was a Louis Saha moment. When Manchester United come calling, you don’t turn them down,” said Smith.

Raids by Latham & Watkins, DLA and Pillsbury Winthrop rocked Shaw Pittman’s London office last year, taking four partners and their teams of associates. Maughan vowed to rebuild the office and said he still plans on the office holding eight partners by 2006.

Smith brings the number of partners to three.