A property assistant from Clifford Chance (CC) who joined Nabarro Nathanson as a partner has rejoined his old firm as an assistant – after just nine months.
Richard Margree said he had returned to CC because of its "commitment to develop a truly international practice". Sources said he was in line to be made a partner at the firm next year.
Margree originally joined CC's property practice in 1994 from Berwin Leighton. When he joined Nabarros' Reading office last November as a salaried partner he said he wanted a change in lifestyle.
At CC he will work on domestic and international property investment and development transactions. He said: "The legal industry is much more fluid than it used to be. Firms are focusing on running themselves more like a business.
"CC's clients increasingly require pan-European capability and I am looking forward to helping to develop this side of the business."
Margree took two CC clients over to Nabarros – the Singapore government and property investment company Rubicon West. They are believed to be following him back to CC.
Legal Week understands that he will also be taking at least one Nabarros client for whom he has been doing development work. CC head of commercial property Teddy Bourne said he was an excellent lawyer with a bright future.
In April, CC persuaded insolvency assistant Philip Hertz to return to the fold after two years at Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft.