Wikborg Rein hires Qatar Gas GC for City office

Joe McGladdery joins Wikborg Rein’s English law practice in London, alongside partners Clare Calnan and Rob Jardine-Brown.

Between 2007 and 2011 McGladdery was responsible for developing Nakilat’s legal and insurance department. He trained at Simmons & Simmons and has also worked at shipping boutique Curtis Davis Garrard.

McGladdery specialises in non-contentious shipping matters and said he wanted to develop his practice as a shipping projects lawyer. In particular, he will focus on the liquid natural gas market, where he foresees an expansion in seaborne trade.

The firm’s London office now houses four partners and 10 associates and is headed by shipping partner Finn Bjørnstad, who relocated to the City last year.

Partner Simon Tatham, who joined Wikborg Rein from Bentley Stokes & Lowless in 2010 (1 February 2010) recently left the firm. His destination is unknown.