What are the recent departures and arrivals at Debevoise & Plimpton?

Clifford Chance kicks off funds rebuild with Debevoise hire 22 September 2011 | By Matt Byrne Clifford Chance has moved to rebuild its depleted funds practice with a senior hire from Debevoise & Plimpton. Earlier this summer Clifford Chances funds practice was rocked by the exit of a four-partner team to Weil Gotshal & Manges (13 June 2011). Now the magic circle firm is expected to bring in Debevoise international counsel Gerard Saviola as a partner in its London team. Saviola, whose clients include Morgan Stanley, is understood to be one of the US firms most highly rated junior lawyers. He is set to join Clifford Chance by the end of next month. The hire is part of Clifford Chances rebuilding campaign in funds. Last year the firms funds chief Jason Glover left to join the London office of Simpson Thacher (20 July 2010). This summer saw a four-partner funds team of Ed Gander, Nigel Clark and Nick Benson and tax partner Jonathan Kandel quit for Weil. They were followed a month later by funds associates Stephen Fox and David Irvine (4 July 2011). Neither Clifford Chance or Debevoise was available for comment. Mayer Brown swoops on Debevoise for insurance partner 5 September 2011 | By Vanessa Wozniak Global firm Mayer Brown has grown its corporate and securities practice and insurance industry group with the hire of Colin Scagell as a partner in London. Scagell, who joins Mayer Brown today (5 September) from Debevoise & Plimpton, focuses on the insurance sector. He has advised the Hanover Group is its recent acquisition of Chaucer, AIG in its agreement to sell AIA to Prudential plc for $35 billion and Benfield in its merger with Aon. He has particular experience of cross border public transactions including takeovers, listings and secondary securities offerings. Sean Connolly, senior partner at Mayer Brown in London, said: Colins appointment supports our commitment to continuing to invest in this important area both in London and globally. Scagell added: Mayer Brown is committed to growing further this part of the business which makes it an exciting time to join the firm. I am particularly keen to develop and integrate Mayer Browns ability to serve clients across the London, Bermuda and US markets. Scagells appointment is the firms most senior addition to its corporate insurance offering since the arrival of partner Martin Mankabady from Lawrence Graham in 2008. 4 April 2011 LONDON Debevoise & Plimpton associate Damian Connolly has departed the US firm to join the ¬London office of US rival Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge as a partner in its insurance and reinsurance group. Royal Dutch Shell appoints legal director 11 October 2010 Royal Dutch Shell has hired a new legal director to take over from incumbent Beat Hess, who retires in January. Peter Rees QC joins from the London office of US firm Debevoise & ¬Plimpton, where he was a partner in the dispute resolution group. The news comes as managing counsel, exploration and production for Shell UK David Isenegger leaves the companys Aberdeen office to become general counsel at Centrica Energy (The Lawyer, 13 September). Isenegger takes over from Peter Roberts, who left to join Ashurst earlier this year. Debevoise beefs up London practice with Travers hire 20 September 2010 | By Andrew Pugh Print Email Share Comment Save US firm Debevoise & Plimpton has expanded its London private equity practice with the hire of Travers Smith partner David Innes. Innes departs after a decade at the City firm, where one of his key relationships was with private equity house Bridgepoint Capital, which he advised on its £955m sale of retailer Pets at Home earlier this year (27 January 2010). As the firms relationship partner with the private equity house, he also advised on its £350m acquisition of Fat Face. His other clients include 3i and TA Associates. Debevoise presiding partner Martin Frederick Evans said Innes would play a leading role in the long-term growth of our private equity M&A practice and help expand our presence in the London market. Debevoise London office head James Scoville added: We already have leading US and English mergers and acquisitions, funds formation, leveraged finance and tax practices here. Davids arrival provides us with added strength specifically in private equity M&A. In addition to building out this core practice in London, we expect his expertise will significantly strengthen our firms ability to meet the needs of our clients throughout Europe and globally. 15 February 2010 | By Gavriel Hollander Print Email Share Save Former Russell Jones & Walker partner Tom Epps has joined Debevoise & Plimpton as international counsel in its European ¬litigation practice. Epps joins the firms London office as part of the international corporate investigations and defence team, led by European litigation head Lord Goldsmith QC. Epps said: Debevoise has an unrivalled international reputation for ¬corporate investigations and defence and Im excited to be joining my new colleagues in London on this world-class platform. Crowell &Moring boosts London office 05 October 2009 | By Julia Berris Print Email Share Save Washington DC-headquartered Crowell & Moring has bolstered its London office with a hire from fellow US firm Debevoise & ¬Plimpton. Corporate partner Joel Wheeler has joined the firms London office and will focus on cross-border ¬public and private M&A. Corporate chairman James Stuart said: Were focused on growing our corporate practice in London. Joel has a unique ability to understand a clients long-term business objectives and hes going to be an important part of our team. this is the latest in a string of hires for Crowell & Morings London office. Earlier this year it hired Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Tolls former European managing partner Rob Murray for its antitrust litigation practice. The firm also hired LG corporate partner Timothy Leeson in April and two other partners from Eversheds last year. Feb 09 Former US Attorney General Michael Mukasey is to join Debevoise & Plimpton as a partner in the firms litigation department in New York, the firm announced on Monday (17 February). Mukasey, who replaced Alberto Gonzales in the governmental role in November 2007, will focus his practice at Debevoise on internal corporate investigations, independent board reviews, corporate governance and monitorships. He is due to start at the firm later this month. Mukasey (pictured) said: I am pleased to be joining one of the worlds leading international law firms and look forward to working with the very talented lawyers at Debevoise. The firms highly regarded litigation and investigations practice will provide an excellent platform for challenging and exciting work. Mukasey was a partner at New Yorks Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler before his confirmation as attorney general. He retired as chief judge of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York in 2006, after more than 18 years on the bench. Judge Mukaseys reputation for independence, fairness and integrity has been a hallmark of his career in both the public and private sectors. It is with great pleasure that we welcome such an outstanding and accomplished individual to our firm, said Debevoise presiding partner Martin Frederic Evans. At Debevoise, Mukasey will join other high-profile recruits including former UK Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, who is now the firms European chairman of litigation, and Mary Jo White, the former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. In his role as Attorney General, Mukasey limited contact between the White House and the Justice Department and reinforced a merit-based system for the hiring and recruitment of career employees. He also appointed a prosecutor to investigate the firing of former New Mexico US Attorney David Iglesias. During his farewell address last month, Mukasey said he was confident that the depa