Lovells is to strengthen its Paris office with the hire of high-profile banking partner Michel Quere from Dewey & LeBoeuf.

Quere is one of three partners currently charged with co-managing Dewey & LeBoeuf's Paris office, which he joined in April 2008 from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

He is due to join Lovells on 1 March, with his appointment marking the first lateral partner hire announced since the firm voted on its transatlantic merger with Hogan & Hartson, set to go live in May.

Quere, who joined Freshfields in 1982 and went on to head its Paris banking practice, focuses on general banking work including leveraged and acquisition finance, asset and real estate finance, debt restructuring and regulatory.

Matthew Cottis, Lovells' global head of banking, said: "Michel's seniority and credentials are second to none. He is one of the most highly-rated lawyers in Paris and we know from personal experience that his reputation is well deserved."

Lovells managing partner David Harris added: "He arrives at an exciting time for the firm and will enhance our banking practice in Paris, allowing us to strengthen our existing relationships in the sector while simultaneously forging new ones."

Dewey instated a three-partner Paris management committee last year after losing two office heads in two years. Arbitration partner Eric Schwartz left in April 2009 to launch a Paris office for rival US firm King & Spalding, while previous office head Yves Huyghe de Mahenge retired in 2008 but later took up a consultancy role with CMS Cameron McKenna.

The two remaining Dewey Paris co-heads are corporate partners Stephen Walters and Margaret Civetta.

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