Freshfields signs up partner trio in boost for US litigation practice

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has significantly bolstered its US litigation capability with a triple partner hire.

The magic circle firm has hired three partners focusing on financial institution litigation from three different firms.

Marshall Fishman and Walter Stuart join Freshfields in New York from Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel and Vinson & Elkins respectively, while Tim Coleman (pictured), who was previously a partner with Dewey & LeBoeuf, will work primarily from Washington.

Freshfields global litigation head Chris Pugh said: "The addition of Tim, Marshall and Walter could not have come at a better time. As a result of the internationalisation of business risk and increasingly extensive regulation, our cross-border litigation and investigations practices worldwide are in high demand, stimulated particularly by the increasing co-operation between the Securities & Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, and the Financial Services Authority and other European regulators."

The three hires take Freshfields' US litigation practice to a total of 11 partners and 40 fee earners.

Freshfields launched its US litigation practice in January last year with the hire of three partners from Covington & Burling and Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Since then the firm added to the team with hires including David Onorato, the former deputy general counsel and director of litigation with Bank of America.

Last month Freshfields launched a global investigations practice to advise multinational corporates on regulatory issues relating to corruption and financial reporting. The new practice sits within the firm's disputes group.

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