Bristows is set to boost its relationship with Kilpatrick Stockton after the intellectual property boutique this month hired the US law firm's last London-based partner.

Last week (20 May) Bristows recruited corporate partner Ken Boehner from Kilpatrick. The move marked Kilpatrick's withdrawal from London, making it the first major US practice to pull of the UK since Chicago's Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal shut its City arm in 1999.

Bristows said that it hopes to become an informal referral partner of Kilpatrick following the hire. Other allies of the City boutique include Nixon Peabody, Ropes & Gray and Proskauer Rose.

Bristows joint managing partner Pat Treacy told Legal Week: "Bristows has always been intent on staying an independent law firm. However we are close to a number of US firms that complement our practice areas, and we will see Kilpatrick as one of those."

Boehner joins Bristows' three-partner corporate team and will focus on M&A, private equity and strategic alliance transactions, advising US and European technology, telecoms and media clients.