Simmons brings in US-qualified Jones Day associate as a partner

Simmons & Simmons has taken Jones Day senior associate Daniel Winterfeldt to bulk up its US group, continuing with its strategy of hiring senior associates from US and magic circle firms as partners.

US-qualified Winterfeldt will become a securities partner in the five-lawyer US group. He will focus on life sciences and financial institutions.

The firm is expecting that London-based Winterfeldt will work closely with the Hong Kong office, where it relocated global head of corporate Damon Le Maitre-George earlier this year.

Winterfeldt said: "The direction that the international corporate group is taking is a perfect fit for the progression of my practice, and I think that together we can create a substantial force in the US securities market."

Winterfeldt's hire follows that of private equity partner Noel Ainsworth, who in April joined from Debevoise & Plimpton, where he was a senior associate. In all, in 2006-07 five senior associates were taken from magic circle or US firms and were made partner upon their arrival at Simmons' London office. In comparison, only three internal associates were made up to the partnership last year.