Second O'Melveny raid leaves Norton Rose with one Brussels partner

O’Melveny & Myers has raided Norton Rose’s Brussels office for the second time in 18 months by hiring managing partner John Cook for its competition team.

Cook joins the US firm as an of counsel, leaving Norton Rose with just one partner in Belgium. Last May O’Melveny appointed Norton Rose’s Riccardo Celli to launch in Brussels, and now has 10 competition lawyers in the city.

As well as helping to further the development in Brussels, Cook will work closely with O’Melveny’s London office to build a UK competition practice.

O’Melveny’s global competition co-head Rich Parker said Cook’s hire added depth to the firm’s worldwide antitrust group as well as European competition capabilities.

Norton Rose confirmed Cook’s departure.