Addleshaw Goddard has recruited two litigation partners from the London arm of Winston & Strawn, it has emerged.

Winston UK litigation practice head Jamie Harrison and partner Kent Philips, both of whom specialise in commercial litigation and international arbitration, will join Addleshaws as partners in September.

The hires are part of a wider drive by Addleshaws to expand its litigation practice, with more recruits set to follow in the coming months.

The departure of Harrison and Philips will leave Winston's London office with three partners and associate Danvers Baillieu as the only full-time dedicated litigator in London. Sir Gavin Lightman, the former High Court judge, is also a consultant to the firm. Winston's three other UK-based partners – Zoe Ashcroft, Thomas Benz and Barry Vitou – all focus on in transactional work.

Commenting on the departures, Winston London practice head Thomas Benz told Legal Week: "Our focus on building our cross-border disputes practice remains, in particular through our Geneva, Paris and Hong Kong offices."

Earlier this summer the top 100 US law firm expanded its Paris arm with the addition of a team of litigators from Latham & Watkins. Partners Patrick Dunaud and Emmanuel Drai joined from Latham & Watkins, together with three associates, taking the total number of fee earners in the group to 22.

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