LEADING telecommunications lawyer Robin Saphra is leaving City firm Allison & Humphreys for a directorship created for him at One 2 One, the mobile-phone subsidiary of Cable & Wireless and US West.

A partner at Allison & Humphreys since 1995, Saphra was headhunted for his new role as One 2 One's director of public policy and legal affairs, which he will take up on 21 April.

Saphra said he was attracted to the position because he wanted to work in the telecommunications industry and expand his commercial horizons.

But he will not be severing his links with Allison & Humphreys entirely and will remain as a consultant to the firm until June 1998.

Saphra's responsibilities at Allison & Humphreys will be taken over by head of the firm's communications and media group, Tony Ballard.

Ballard said the practice's telecommunications practice was expanding and he was sad to see Saphra leave.

However, “new blood” had been recruited, including Isobel Brown, who will join the firm in May from Oftel, he said.