Dechert competition partner Chris Watson has left the firm’s City office after just two years, it has emerged.
Watson, who joined the US firm’s London competition team in March 2006 from Allen & Overy (A&O), officially withdrew from Dechert’s partnership on 29 February.
It is unclear what his next move will be, although he is understood to be on gardening leave already. Watson, who joined A&O as a partner in 2000 from Simmons & Simmons, specialises in telecommunications work - in particular competition and European Union law and antitrust issues in the sector.
His hire was, at the time, one of the most high-profile lateral appointments Dechert’s London office had ever made and his departure leaves the office with only two competition partners - Peter Crockford and Edward Kling. Confirming the departure, a spokesperson for Dechert told Legal Week: “Chris is renowned for his expertise in the telecommunications sector, particularly its competition and regulatory aspects.
“He joined our group with a view to moving into other sectors and has since decided to resume his focus on telecommunications.”
Last year Dechert’s London office lost a three-lawyer finance team to Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis and property litigation partner Keith Conway to Nabarro.
The office was spared earlier this year when the firm announced it would be tightening its belt and issued lay-off notices to 13 associates in its US finance and real estate practice.
Dechert declined to comment on whether it would be replacing Watson. Watson was unavailable for comment.
