Micklethwaite leaves Gherson for Brown Rudnick

Roger Gherson, now the only partner at Gherson, will remain at the firm and focus on immigration, nationality, asylum and human rights. He founded the firm in 1988.

Micklethwaite, who joined forces with Gherson in August 2007, is set to take an associate and two trainees with him to the Boston-headquartered firm. He joins as a partner on 6 July.

Salaried litigation partner Jim Sharkey is also understood to be leaving the firm, although he is not in the group joining Brown Rudnick.

In an email seen by The Lawyer, Micklethwaite said: “After discussion, Roger Gherson and I have agreed to split our business interests. As a result, our partnership will formally dissolve on 5 July 2009.”

Before joining Gherson, Micklethwaite was a litigation partner at Bingham McCutchen.

Following the arrival of Micklethwaite, Brown Rudnick will have five litigation partners in London. The City practice specialises in advising on disputes involving institutional funds and hedge funds.

Commenting on the departures, Gherson said: “We wish them every success.”