McDermott boosts London energy with Dentons partner hire

McDermott Will & Emery has made its third lateral hire in a month, bringing in an energy partner from Denton Wilde Sapte.

David Birchall, whose work focuses on deals in the electricity, trading and carbon sectors, will become the eleventh London partner in McDermott's global energy practice. His start date is yet to be confirmed.

He has been a partner in Dentons' energy and infrastructure practice since 2000, when he joined from Herbert Smith.

The last energy lateral for McDermott in London was Stefan Schmitz, who joined in 2008 from Squire Sanders & Dempsey.

Doron Ezickson, McDermott's London office head and global energy practice co-chair, said: "David's appointment is a key part of our continued growth plans for the London office, and his trading and transactional expertise will be a critical component to the sustained success of our global energy and project practices."

Early last month the firm launched a private client practice in the City with the double hire of LG's former senior partner Martyn Gowar and Andrew Vergunst from professional services firm Maitland.

The firm already has private client capability in Germany and Italy, but the hires made McDermott one of the first major US law firms to launch a London private client practice alongside Baker & McKenzie, which has an established practice.

McDermott Will & Emery on the Legal Week Wiki