Reed Smith spin-off Hill Hofstetter bags ex-chief

Foster, who has joined Hill Hofstetter’s corporate practice, said it had been a wrench to leave Reed Smith, but added that he had “a lot of time” for the lawyers at his new firm.

“I kept in touch with ­people [at Hill Hofstetter], who I’d known for a long time,” said Foster. “The idea came up that it might be a good place for my practice.”

Foster stood down as Reed Smith’s UK managing partner in October 2007, with Richard Swinburn ­taking on the new role of London managing partner. Foster then managed the firm’s move from two London sites into one City HQ at the Broadgate Tower.

Reed Smith Europe and Middle East ­managing partner Roger Parker thanked Foster for his contribution to the firm.