US litigation specialist Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges is set to become the latest US firm to open an office in
London after hiring restructuring partner Richard East from Kirkland & Ellis.
East had been rumoured to be joining New York firm Weil Gotshal & Manges but it is understood the talks broke down at the last minute, with East now set to leave Kirkland for Quinn Emanuel later this week.
News of East’s move will be seen as a blow to Weil Gotshal, which last week recruited Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft restructuring partner Tony Horspool for its London office. The firm has been trying to rebuild its London restructuring team following the departure of Chris Mallon to Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom late last year.
East’s hire will give Quinn Emanuel its first European office. The Los Angeles firm is relatively unknown in the UK but has a strong reputation for corporate litigation and has around 375 lawyers. Outside the US its only international office until this point has been in Tokyo.
The firm already has a top role on one of the first true bank-on-bank disputes to hit the UK as a result of the credit crunch - HSH Nordbank’s claim against UBS for more than $275m (£138m) and a counterclaim by UBS. The case sees Quinn Emanuel advising Nordbank in the US, with New York-based litigation partner Peter Calamari leading the team.
For an in-depth look at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges from The American Lawyer, click here.
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