NautaDutilh has recruited an Allen & Overy (A&O) partner in Brussels, with restructuring and insolvency litigation specialist Sophie Jacmain set to join the Benelux firm.

Jacmain left A&O's Brussels office earlier this month, where she co-headed a restructuring group within the litigation department. She was promoted to partner at A&O in 2008. She joins Nauta as an associate partner, a rank the firm introduced last year as an alternative to salaried partner.

Her practice focuses on litigating on behalf of companies in financial difficulty and representing creditors. She also teaches and researches at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles.

Jacmain said: "Nauta has a clear focus on both litigation and restructuring which ideally suits my practice."

Nauta's Brussels managing partner Philippe Francois said: "Jacmain is a skilled negotiator delivering practical, commercial advice on how to deal with corporate restructuring and insolvency litigation as well as corporate failure. Her arrival reinforces the strong reputation of our litigation practice."

Nauta has recently refocused its efforts towards restructuring and insolvency and last year launched a dedicated team in response to the financial downturn. The 20-lawyer team was drawn from the firm's banking, insolvency and litigation groups and is headed by the firm's head of corporate Robert van Galen.

Allen & Overy on the Legal Week Wiki