Ashurst finance partner Simon Thrower is set to move to Simmons & Simmons' London office, after 15 years in his former firm's partnership.

Thrower became a partner at Ashurst in 1999, three years after he joined as a senior associate from Allen & Overy.

It is understood that he has already handed in his resignation at Ashurst.

Thrower's recent work includes representing publishing group Johnston Press on its £360m capital refinancing plan last month, while he acted for the lenders on both coffee retailer Caffe Nero's £276m refinancing in January and the £375m refinancing of sandwich chain Pret A Manger last July.

He specialises in corporate and leveraged acquisition finance, syndicated corporate debt facilities and debt restructuring work.

Simmons head of financial markets Jonathan Hammond said: "Simon's arrival further supports the recent growth and expansion of our financial markets practice. 

"His extensive experience and knowledge of all aspects of domestic and international finance transactions will be invaluable to our international practice."

Last November fellow Ashurst finance partner Nick Benham joined Davis Polk & Wardwell to launch the US firm's English law finance practice, becoming its tenth full-time partner based in the City.

News of Thrower's move comes days after it emerged that corporate partner Nigel Stacey has left the firm to join Gibson Dunn. Stacey, who had been a partner at Ashurst since 2000, rejoins former Ashurst partner Jonathan Earle at the US firm's London office.

Earle's departure in April followed the exit of private equity partner Karan Dinamani, who left the firm in March to join former Ashurst head of corporate Stephen Lloyd at Allen & Overy.

Last month Ashurst boosted its finance team in Sydney with the hire of King & Wood Mallesons partner Jennifer Schlosser. She is set to join the firm in July.

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