Pillsbury left reeling as City corporate ace joins TwoBirds
US firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has been left with just one full-time partner in its London office after a raid by Bird & Bird.
The UK firm has hired corporate partner Simon Fielder, who has a practice focused on AIM and corporate work for clients in the technology industry.
Fielder said: "I was really looking for a platform that has a bit more mass than the one I have at Pillsbury London at the moment. I was particularly interested in Bird & Bird's European offering, which is very attractive to US clients." Bird & Bird has focused on building up its corporate practice recently, both in London and abroad. Hires include Alistair Crellin from Pinsent Masons and Simon Allport from Jones Day.
Blundell said: "We're expanding steadily and Simon is the next piece in that."
Fielder joined Pillsbury just 12 months ago from Osborne Clarke, where he spent 14 years. His departure leaves Pillsbury with London managing partner Tim Wright as its only full-time partner.
Pillsbury was unavailable for comment.
#Shaw Pittman TimelineJuly 1998: Shaw Pittman opens in London.
May 2003: Managing partner Andrew Moyle leaves for Latham & Watkins.
August 2003: Corporate partners Charles Severs and Robert Bishop quit firm for DLA Piper.
November 2004: Managing partner Andrew Maughan quits for Morrison & Foerster, along with partners Andrew Smith and David Skinner.
February 2005: Pillsbury Winthrop merges with Shaw Pittman.
August 2007: Outsourcing partner Phillip Rees quits for Hugh James.
September 2007: Corporate partner Simon Fielder moves to Bird & Bird.
