SullCrom raids Simmons for white-collar crime star

Delahunty joins the US firm’s London office in June as a European counsel in the criminal defence and investigations group. Until now the bulk of Sullivan’s lawyers focusing on this area have been based in the US, particularly New York.

Simmons established its crime, fraud and investigations unit in 2006 with the recruitment of Delahunty from Peters & Peters.

Her move to Sullivan comes ahead of the implementation of the UK Bribery Act. Delahunty gave evidence to the Parliamentary Select Committee debating the then-Bribery Bill in 2009. She also advises on Serious Fraud Office investigations and similar matters relating to overseas jurisdictions, including the US.

A number of other US firms have also recently bolstered their white-collar crime units in London. Dechert picked up DLA Piper’s joint global head of litigation Neil Gerrard and EMEA head of corporate crime and investigations Jonathan Pickworth in April (1 April 2011) while Covington & Burling hired Robert Amaee, head of the anti-corruption and proceeds of crime units at the SFO at the start of the year (17 January 2011).

Delahunty said her new firm’s “international platform and leading financial institutions practice make this an exceptional opportunity for me”.

A spokesperson for Simmons confirmed Delahunty’s departure, adding: “We’d like to thank her for her significant contribution to the development of the firm’s crime, fraud and investigations group and wish her well for her future endeavours.”

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