Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has strengthened its corporate restructuring practice in London with the hire of partner Dominic McCahill from rival US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges.

McCahill, who will become the sixth partner in Skadden's London restructuring practice, will report to London corporate restructuring chief Chris Mallon. The firm's restructuring practice sits alongside the corporate group, which currently comprises 16 partners in the City.

He has acted on matters including advising the resolution committee of Iceland's Kaupthing Bank and the Lehman estate in Chapter 11 proceedings.
He was also part of a multi-disciplinary team advising on global broker MF Global's UK administration last autumn.

On this transaction – which is still ongoing – Weil is acting for the company's administrators, KPMG, alongside recent Jones Day recruit and London restructuring head Adam Plainer. The Weil team is working alongside South Square barristers Martin Pascoe QC and Daniel Bayfield.

McCahill was Weil's sole London restructuring partner until the firm hired Jones Day duo Plainer and Paul Bromfield, who both joined the US firm over the course of last year.

Commenting on the hire, European managing partner Bruce Buck said: "Client demand exists for a larger restructuring capability, and Dominic's skills and experience are a perfect match for our already well-established team."

McCahill's move follows the recent appointment of funds partner Stephen Sims from Macfarlanes, who joined Skadden today (4 January) to launch a London funds practice. During 2011 the firm also hired SNR Denton's advocacy chief and former deputy chairman Rory McAlpine.