McDermott Will & Emery has hired high-profile Withers London partner Ziva Robertson in another boost to the firm's international private client practice.

The move follows McDermott's hire of Astrid Owen – also a Withers private client partner – who joined the firm in October.

Robertson, who works on both contentious and non-contentious cross-jurisdictional trust matters involving trustees, beneficiaries, settlors and protectors, is qualified in England, the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

She has worked on a number of high profile cases including the landmark RBS Coutts v W case in the Cayman Island, and assists with the structuring of family businesses through the use of trusts, foundations and holding companies across the globe.

Prior to her time at Withers, Robertson worked at legacy Mourant du Feu & Jeune until 2009, and acted as the head of Charles Russell's trust litigation team between 2000 and 2004.

"Being able to offer the contentious piece to our clients in addition to the trust advisory piece has been a priority for the growth of the team here in London since its formation in 2009″, said London private client head Martyn Gowar.

"The growth of the London international private client team has been significant, trebling headcount since the group's inception," added Hugh Nineham, head partner of McDermott's London office.

"The development of the international private client practice group in London reflects the growing reality that wealthy families and individuals must increasingly deal with cross-border issues and the arrival of Ziva will be a great asset to providing a holistic service to those families wherever they may be located."

Earlier this year McDermott's London office also sealed the hire of corporate partner duo Stuart Mathews and Rupert Weber – both of whom advise family offices and enterprises on their investment activities – from wealth services firm Maitland.

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