Partners from Shearman & Sterling, Jones Day and Covington & Burling are set to join three senior disputes lawyers from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in establishing a global arbitration boutique.

Freshfields London arbitration chief Constantine Partasides announced he was leaving the magic circle firm earlier this month to launch the as-yet unnamed firm, along with Paris-based disputes partner Georgios Petrochilos. Freshfields' former international arbitration head Jan Paulsson will also join the new firm, having left the magic circle outfit after 20 years in 2013.

The trio will now be joined as founders of the firm by litigator Luke Sobota who is based in Jones Day's Washington office, Covington & Burling's London-based international arbitration co-chair Gaetan Verhoosel, and international arbitration partner Todd Wetmore from Shearman & Sterling's Paris office.

The new firm will be run from three offices – Washington, London and Paris. All six members will be equal co-founders of the business.

Emmanuel Gaillard, head of Shearman & Sterling's international arbitration group said: "I have enjoyed working with Todd and seeing him develop into a great arbitration specialist. I have great respect for his work and have no doubt that he will continue to be successful in his new practice. I am thankful for his contribution and I am sure that we will continue working together in the years to come."

Commenting on Verhoosel's departure, Covington chairman Timothy Hester said: "We thank him for his contributions to our award-winning international arbitration practice, and wish him well in this next chapter of his career.

"We expect to continue to work closely with Ga