Marine partners leave for Norton Rose, finance partner for Lloyds

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert is set to see a trio of partner departures ahead of its impending merger with Clyde & Co next month.

The departures include the firm's head of marine, energy and trade Patrick Foss, who is joining Norton Rose on 
1 November alongside fellow marine insurance partner Chris Zavos, and financial services regulatory partner Chris Brennan, who has left to join Lloyds Banking Group.

Foss and Zavos, who focus on marine and energy insurance claims and shipping disputes, had both practised at shipping boutique Hill Taylor Dickinson before joining Barlows in 2003 and 2006 respectively, with Zavos joining from a two-year stint at legacy Richards Butler.

Norton Rose head of financial institutions James Bateson said: "These hires are part of a wider strategy to grow our insurance practice in London. We have a strong practice internationally and we have been working to balance this in London."

Clydes chief executive Peter Hasson (pictured) commented: "The practices of Clyde & Co and Barlow Lyde & Gilbert are complementary rather than duplicative. We did, however, receive some queries from clients on announcing the merger where insurers felt it limited their choice to some extent in the marine area. As a result, we agreed with Patrick Foss and Chris Zavos that they would not transfer to 
Clyde & Co."

Separately, Brennan has left Barlows to take up a role as head of regulatory in the legal department of Lloyds Banking Group. Brennan joined Lloyds last month after five years at Barlows, prior to which he worked in the enforcement division of the Financial Services Authority and as general counsel of multi-asset brokerage Newedge.

He was made up to partner in the firm's City financial services regulatory team in November last year, and advises on both contentious and non-contentions regulatory matters in a variety of financial markets.