LONDON firm Mishcon De Reya is taking on four lawyers from the West End property firm Rabin Leacock Lipman. But at the same time four
Mishcons equity partners are leaving: Brian Hepworth (litigation), Peter Armstrong (media), Graham Stedman and Paul Salmon (company).
The Rabin Leacock move is Mishcon's second acquisition of property lawyers in a fortnight, and its third acquisition of a team this year.
Ian Lipman joins Mishcon as a partner, with senior partner Mortimer Rabin becoming a consultant. Two junior partners join as assistants.
Rabin Leacock Lipman, which has 13 partners and is the result of a merger in 1989, will close. The remaining lawyers will go elsewhere, after deciding to pursue different career paths.
Anthony Julius, a senior Mishcons partner, said: “They are an interesting, lively practice and will fit in very well with the expansion of the property department.”
Mishcons has known the Rabin team for some time and the merger arose through talks.
On the Mishcon departures, Julius said: “The firm is in a constant process of strengthening and redefinition. These moves are evidence of this.”
The departures take place between now and early next year. Lipman's property team joins in December.
Mishcons, as part of its long-term growth strategy, strengthened its property department first with Brecher & Co partner Susan Freeman and two assistants Nick Doffman and Ian Paul. All three had chosen to not go with Brechers in the merger with City firm Nicholson Graham & Jones several weeks earlier.
The latest additions increases the property partners to 10, with a department of more than 20 fee-earners.
