Morgan Lewis & Bockius brings English partner number four into London office

US firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius has continued with its "planned expansion in London" by recruiting its first commercial property partner, Step- hen Turner, who has left London firm Lawrence Graham where he was a partner.

Turner, who also works on environmental matters, joins the firm as an an international partner. He will be the fourth English partner at the firm's London office, which has only two US partners.

Charles Lubar, chair of the firm's international section and founding partner of the firm's London office, said: "Stephen has joined to develop our commercial property practice, and will also work on non-contentious environmental matters."

Turner's appointment follows the poaching of leading litigation partner Robert Goldspink from Denton Hall.

Robert Rakison, one of the English-qualified partners with the firm said: "The appointment expands our service to our clients. Also a commercial property practice is a necessary element for a successful corporate practice in a firm practising UK law."

According to Rakison, the firm's focus is corporate and litigation work, with particular emphasis on intellectual property, project finance and international dispute resolution.

He added that the office was continuing to expand in London and was currently in talks with various people at both partner and assistant level.

Bill Richards, the managing partner of Lawrence Graham, where Turner spent his last six years, commented: "Commercial property, a key area of our practice, goes from strength to strength."