Partner trio makes way to Maxwell Winward

City firm Maxwell Winward has made its first round of lateral hires after it was formed via a merger between Maxwell Batley and Winward Fearon in April.

Senior partner Raymond Levine said the firm was cautiously in growth mode, shoring up its real estate, construction and alternative dispute resolution practices in anticipation of the credit crunch bite.

James Bremen has been appointed as a partner in the firm's construction team from US firm White & Case. Michael Geiss, formerly of Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker, has joined the real estate team as a partner, and Costa Keliris has joined from Hammonds as a partner in the dispute resolution team.

Levine said the firm would look to grow internationally, with a particular emphasis on Germany and the Middle East.