White & Case Hires London Partner From US Rival
The hire closely follows a trend that sees U.S. firms in London favouring other U.S. firms when hiring laterals.
February 24, 2020 at 06:04 AM
2 minute read
White & Case has expanded its global tax practice with the hire of a Sidley Austin partner in London.
Tax partner Will Smith joins the firm from Sidley, where he spent almost a decade. His hire is among the first for the firm in London this year, and follows the loss of heavyweight tax partner Prabhu Narasimhan to Baker McKenzie last year.
Oliver Brettle, London partner and member of White & Case's global executive committee, said in a statement: "Will is an important addition to strengthen our tax capability and support our transactional practices. Our full service capability in London is integral to our strategic objectives and tax is a vital part of that.
"His arrival follows the addition of tax partner Hagai Zaifman in New York in 2019 and the promotion to partner of Paris-based tax lawyer Estelle Philippi at the start of 2020."
Smith first joined Sidley as a senior associate in 2010 from Shearman and Sterling, and made partner in 2013, according to his LinkedIn profile. He spent about five years at Shearman and two at Norton Rose Fulbright.
The hire closely follows a trend identified by Law.com International that sees U.S. firms in London favouring other U.S. firms when hiring laterals. The research showed that nearly 30% of all lateral partner hires in London involved U.S partners defecting to other U.S rivals.
Last year, White & Case's expected hire of banking heavyweight Mark Donald from Weil Gotshal & Manges fell through due to concerns around alleged "client conflict issues". Donald has since resurfaced in a role with legal recruitment company Maclean Legal Search.
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