Shearman moves to fill litigation hole in London

Shearman & Sterling is transferring a litigation partner from its Paris office in order to re-establish a senior head of litigation and arbitration within London.

David Reed, an international arbitration specialist, will relocate to the firm's London office full-time be-fore autumn as a replacement for Chris Colbridge, who left the firm last month to launch Kirkland & Ellis's standalone litigation practice in London.

Colbridge was Shearman & Sterling's only litigation partner in London, having joined the firm as a senior associate from Clifford Chance in 2000 with a mandate to build a contentious practice in London. His departure left Shearman & Sterling with seven litigation associates and one of counsel in London.

Shearman & Sterling London managing partner Ken MacRitchie said Reed would continue to oversee his existing French clients while managing the London practice group.

The litigation practice accounted for 5 per cent, or £3m, of the London office's £61m revenue last year.