Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

Mayer Brown has added a new partner and a new practice co-leader from a key hometown rival, the firm announced Friday.

Adam Paul, who was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, joined Mayer Brown’s Chicago office, where he’ll serve as co-leader of the firm’s global restructuring, bankruptcy and insolvency practice.

Paul works with debtor and creditor clients in U.S. and global restructuring matters and advises boards of directors and senior officers in restructuring strategies and fiduciary duties. He has particular experience with bankruptcies involving mass tort and legal liabilities.

“Adam is well-known as a trusted adviser who has been involved in some of the largest and most complex restructurings over the past decade,” said Britt Miller, managing partner of Mayer Brown’s Chicago office, in a statement. “His practice and proven dedication to client service makes him a perfect addition as we continue to build out our RBI practice in Chicago and globally.”

In a statement, Paul pointed to Mayer Brown’s existing restructuring capabilities, client base and commitment to growth in the bankruptcy practice area as reasons for the move.

Adam Paul of Mayer Brown (Courtesy photo)

“I look forward to working with the firm’s integrated, multidisciplinary team to ensure that our clients receive the best of our knowledge and experience,” he said.

Paul is the newest in a string of restructuring hires at the firm. Mayer Brown recently added Michael Fiddy and Amy Jacks in London; the former is another co-leader of the firm’s global RBI practice, and the latter is a co-leader of the firm’s UK and European RBI practice.

“Building on our recent growth in London, Adam’s arrival reaffirms our commitment to building an even stronger RBI practice to provide a distinctive and commercial full service offering to debtors, funds and other financial institutions,” Brian Trust, a co-leader of Mayer Brown’s RBI practice, said in a statement.

Paul is the second former Kirkland partner this week to leave the firm’s home base in Chicago for another firm in the city: On Thursday, Corey Zarse joined Jones Day’s private equity practice as partner.

On Friday night, a Kirkland spokesperson said: “We appreciate Adam’s and Corey’s contributions to the firm and wish them success in the future.”