Clifford Chance has moved to strengthen its Paris practice, hiring an M&A specialist from top French firm Bredin Prat, the first partner the firm has lost to an international rival, and a new telecoms head from Salans Hertzfeld & Heilbronn, Marc d'Haultfoeuille.
Dominique Bompoint, an M&A specialist at Bredin Prat, is negotiating his departure date. He will be joined by d'Haultfoeuille, who will head up Clifford Chance's Paris telecoms practice.
The appointments follow two moves to Clifford Chance's Paris office last year. Partners Marcus Billam and Frederic Peltier joined from Darrois Villey Maillot & Brochier last February.
The office now has more than 50 lawyers in its M&A Paris group.
Bompoint is the first known partner to leave Bredin Prat – the best friend of Slaughter and May in Paris – for a rival firm.
Bompoint, who advises blue-chip clients, is likely to take clients with him when he leaves.
The news follows a flurry of movement in Paris recently. SJ Berwin & Co made its debut there last month by opening an office with another Salans private equity partner George Pinkham.
Denton Wilde Sapte also raided Salans, taking Gavina Gallier, an associate in the IT practice.
Yves Wehrli, managing partner of Clifford Chance in Paris, said of Bompoint's move: "With all the forecasts predicting long-term growth in the French M&A market, now is a good time to be bringing one of this market's recognised leaders on board."