Onorato to join New York office as first major hire since new practice launch this year

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has brought in its first major lateral hire in New York since the magic circle law firm launched its US litigation practice earlier this year.

David Onorato is to join the New York office as a partner in the litigation practice. He was previously deputy general counsel and director of litigation with Bank of America (BoA).

Onorato will focus on advising financial institutions in matters including civil litigation claims involving securities and other financial products. He left BoA towards the end of last year as the bank geared up to integrate with Merrill Lynch, following BoA's (£38bn) acquisition of Merrill in September. At that time the pair had around 700 lawyers between them.

Onorato's hire takes Freshfields' US litigation and arbitration practice to eight partners and 21 associates across its New York and Washington offices.

The appointment comes after Freshfields formally launched its litigation practice in the US in January with a trio of senior hires from Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Covington & Burling. At that point the firm brought in Willkie Farr's Benito Romano and Covington's Aaron Marcu, both of whom headed the white-collar defence groups at their respective firms, as well as Covington partner Adam Siegel.

The UK firm had already finalised an arbitration launch in Washington in September 2008 with the relocation of partner Nigel Blackaby from Paris and three associates.

Chris Pugh, global head of litigation at Freshfields, commented: "Our profile is increasing in the market and we are trying to build a quality team by identifying top practitioners and bringing them in. David is a good fit in our existing practice."

Freshfields' move to bolster its New York practice follows a spate of hiring by magic circle rival Linklaters in New York. Most recently the firm recruited regulation specialist Robin Maxwell from Goodwin Procter.