Kaye Scholer has taken on DLA Piper's private equity head as its new London managing partner as the New York law firm launches a drive to expand in the City.

Andrew B Harris will join Kaye Scholer next month (5 July) as its new London head after spending six years with DLA Piper. Harris joined the transatlantic firm in 2004 from SJ Berwin, where he was a partner. He will replace London office founder Guilherme Brafman in the role, although Brafman will remain as a partner with the firm.

Kaye Scholer said the hire came as part of a drive to grow its London office to match its strength elsewhere in its core areas of private equity and M&A. The top 100 US firm launched in London in 2001 and currently has only nine lawyers in the office – out of which six are partners – but wants to grow to up to 50 lawyers in a three-year period.

Harris commented: "Kaye Scholer took a deliberate decision to grow at a sensible pace during the boom years. The partnership recognises that now is the time to leverage off its strengths in private equity, M&A and corporate finance and views London as a priority area for significant investment."

Kaye Scholer co-managing partner Barry Willner said: "London is key to our global strategy, and in Andrew we have found the right leader in terms of quality, personality and business acumen."

In light of the departure, DLA Piper has named City partner Will Rosen as its new Europe, Middle East and Asia private equity group head.

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