Denton Wilde Sapte has lost its co-head of banking, Nick Grandage, to City rival Norton Rose.

Grandage, who resigned yesterday (9 February) has co-headed Dentons' banking practice with Serge Sergiou since 2007. The two firms are currently in the process of negotiating his start date at Norton Rose.

Grandage's practice focuses on structured trade and commodity finance. He joined Dentons in 1989 and became a partner in 2002, having spent five years in Asia practising in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Commenting on the hire, Norton Rose banking head Jeremy Edwards said: "Nick has a leading reputation as a banking lawyer around the world and a particular reputation in structured trade and commodity finance. We have partners that practice in this area but we are hoping that this hire will bring our practice to the next level. For him the attraction was partly our Asian network."

Grandage will join Norton Rose's 60-partner banking group in London, but the firm has not ruled out a return to Asia at a later date.

Norton Rose currently has around six City partners practising structured trade and commodity finance, including head of infrastructure and commodities Martin McCann.

McCann said: "He will be an important part of our wider strategy especially with regard to the Asia-Pacific region, as well as Africa and the other emerging markets. He will strengthen significantly our trade and commodity practice."

Dentons has yet to make a decision on whether to replace Grandage as co-head of banking or whether Sergiou will run the practice on his own.

Denton Wilde Sapte on the Legal Week Wiki