Norton Rose has made its fifth French partner hire in two months, appointing Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer aviation specialist Glenn Matheson.
Matheson joins Norton Rose’s Paris office today (2 October) after 12 years as a partner at Freshfields. He will work with Norton Rose’s French banking team and is the firm’s 24th Paris-based partner.
The hire follows the recent arrival of Allen & Overy partner Luc Rentmeesters and Latham & Watkins partner Roberto Cristofolino, as well as Freshfields senior associate Erwan Hericotte and Latham senior associate Marie-Aude Noury, who both joined Norton Rose as partners.
Paris managing partner George Paterson said the Matheson hire was “opportunistic”, adding: “It fits very well with our practice and the gaps we’ve got and the plans we have.”
Matheson’s clients include French banks Calyon and BNP Paribas, which also instruct Norton Rose. Paterson said Matheson’s expertise in aviation and asset finance was complementary to Norton Rose’s existing French practice, which has its roots in marine and aviation law.
Matheson is the third partner to leave Freshfields’ Paris office since July, following those of competition head Jacques-Philippe Gunter, who went to Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and arbitration partner Eric Schwartz, whose departure for LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae was announced in early September.
Freshfields declined the opportunity to comment.
