Newly-merged firm makes first hires to boost competition group

Hogan Lovells is to make its first City partner hire since its merger at the beginning of the month.

High-profile competition specialist Suyong Kim will move from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr to the international firm's City base.

Kim brings with her Karman Gordon and Christopher Hutton, who join Hogan Lovells as counsel. The team is expected to start within the next month.

Kim has been at Wilmer Hale since 2004, working out of the regulatory and government affairs department. Prior to that she was a partner at Denton Wilde Sapte for four years. She was an associate at legacy firm Lovells before joining Dentons in 1999.

With the addition of Kim, the new Hogan Lovells antitrust, competition and economic regulation practice will house four partners and five counsel in the City. The firm's global practice consists of around 130 lawyers and is headed by London-based legacy Lovells partner Susan Bright and Washington DC-based legacy Hogan & Hartson partner Jan McDavid.

Bright commented: "Suyong has an excellent reputation and a proven track record of attracting significant client work and developing a first-rate team. I am delighted that we will be working together and have no doubt that she will be a real asset to the new team here in London."

Kim has recently been working on matters including the Office of Fair Trading's dairy products and tobacco investigations. Her core areas of expertise cover the telecommunications, energy and water sectors.

Hogan Lovells co-chief executive David Harris said: "The continued development and investment in the antitrust practice reflects our commitment to providing clients with access to a broad range of high-quality advice across the regulatory practice."

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