Shearmans recruits from afar

ALMOST half of this year's partnership appointments by US firm Shearman & Sterling were lawyers practising in the firm's offices outside the US.

Last week, the firm announced 15 new partners, six of whom were based in European offices.

In London, UK lawyer Rupert Walker, hired in 1996, was made a partner. Meanwhile, in Paris three new partners were named: Christopher Dugue, Herve Letreguilly and Sami Toutonji. Anton Klosters and Alfred Klossman were appointed in Dusseldorf.

Senior partner Stephen Volk said: "The makeup of this year's partnership class - in terms of the breadth of the practice areas, offices and countries they come from - indicates that the growing need for high-end legal services is strong pretty much across the board."

He said the appointments would advance the firm's objective of expanding internationally.