U.S. firm McDermott Will & Emery has seen another partner leave its London office, with leveraged finance partner Peter Crichton exiting to join Addleshaw Goddard.

Crichton has been a partner at McDermott for two years and specialises in syndicated, leveraged and structured finance transactions and restructurings.

He joined McDermott in 2017 from CMS Cameron McKenna, prior to which he was a partner at DLA Piper.

Crichton is the third McDermott partner to leave the U.S. firm's London outpost in one week.

Restructuring partner Alicia Videon and energy partner Andrew Watson left for listed firm Keystone Law last week (May 3).

The duo rejoined restructuring partner Alan Gar, who left McDermott after a year's stint for Keystone in late 2018.

Addleshaw Goddard finance and projects division managing partner Amanda Gray said in a statement: "The leveraged finance market is becoming increasingly fractured, with an ever-growing number of lenders, and we have seen a proliferation in debt funds. 

"Peter's appointment provides necessary bandwidth to win new market share across the broad spectrum of this market, as well as additional resource to combine with our award-winning private equity team on sponsor-side transactions."

Earlier today (May 8), Addleshaws revealed its continental Europe expansion plans, which it has set in motion with a 10-lawyer team hire from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in Hamburg.

McDermott London managing partner Hamid Yunis told Legal Week: "Our plan now is to grow in London – we have active plans in corporate, M&A and PE.

"The people who have left might have better platforms elsewhere for them and we wish them well."