Morgan Lewis continues City funds hires with Proskauer partner

Yonge joins the firm today (1 March) as a partner, becoming the US firm’s second London-based funds partner following the hire of Noel Ainsworth from Simmons & Simmons at the start of the year.

Companies House filings show that Yonge left Proskauer’s UK LLP on 23 January.

He joined Proskauer in 2008 from McDermott Will & Emery, where he was also a partner, and was previously an associate at Dechert and SJ Berwin. The latter firm was the source of Proskauer’s eight-lawyer funds raid last year (27 July 2011).

Yonge has a regulatory focus, complementing core fund formation lawyer Ainsworth. The hires follow the exit of funds partner Saloni Joshi.

Yonge also goes some way in replacing regulatory partner Robert Falkner, who quit for Reed Smith in 2009.

The hire follows a string of funds moves in London, with Ropes & Gray the latest US firm to launch a City practice (13 February 2012).