Sidley taps SJ Berwin for hedge funds expert

SJ Berwin for hedge funds expert" />Hedge funds and financial markets partner Bruce Gardner has left SJ Berwin after eight years to join the London office of US firm Sidley Austin.

Gardner joins Sidley as a partner in the investment funds, advisors and derivatives group.

SJ Berwin head of financial services David Calligan said: "Bruce is a very good lawyer and we'll certainly miss him. He's made an excellent contribution to what is now a significant and well regarded group."

Calligan added that SJ Berwin would continue to build its hedge fund practice and would be competing with Gardner in future.

Gardner was senior financial services partner at Hammonds before resigning to join SJ Berwin in 2000 for his second spell at the firm. He had previously been headhunted from SJ Berwin by Hammonds Suddards as a partner in 1996.

He will continue to focus on hedge funds and other alternative investment products at Sidley.

Sidley executive committee chairman Tom Cole said: "Bruce is one of the most respected lawyers in the UK hedge fund and financial markets arena and we are pleased to have him join us to lead the hedge fund practice in Europe."

Gardner said he was looking forward to creating an integrated global hedge funds practice at the American firm.