Sedgwick’s London office head Edward Smerdon has joined Aon as the company’s new head of legal and technical following the law firm’s closure.

Sedgwick has seen a steady stream of departures in London and the US since announcing that it would cease operations in late November.

Smerdon, who joined Sedgwick from RPC in July 2010, has spent 27 years in private practice.

He first made partner at legacy Davies Arnold Cooper in 1995 and joined RPC five-and-a-half years later.

He will take on the head of legal role with the financial and professional services division of the risk management company having spent much of his career with a focus on financial services, employment liability and insurance.

Smerdon will replace David Naylor in the role, who left the company last year for Marsh. He will report to Tracy-Lee Kus, head of the financial and professional services division at Aon.

The announcement in November that Sedgwick was to close its doors led to several partners securing moves away.

Kennedys and Clyde & Co were major beneficiaries of the firm’s demise making several hires each in the US and Caribbean.

Kennedys secured teams in both New York and Chicago, as well as securing a presence in Bermuda through Sedgwick’s former office on the island.

Meanwhile, Clydes bolstered its strength in the US with several hires into its three Californian offices as well as one partner each in Chicago, Miami and New York.

DAC Beachcroft and RPC also took two partners apiece in London.

Insurance partners Mark Kendall and Duncan Strachan joined DAC in December while Naomi Vary and Karen Morrish joined RPC in late November.