Firm hire: Charles Russell Speechlys

Charles Russell Speechlys is pleased to announce the appointment of Ludovic (Ludo) de Walden, effective 1 May 2017.

Ludo is a well-known commercial litigator who joins from Bird & Bird where he was joint head of its dispute resolution group until 2015.

Over the last 15 years, Ludo has developed a particular reputation for art-related litigation, with clients ranging from galleries and museums to auctioneers, dealers and collectors.

James Carter, managing partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, says ’Our ability to provide clients with the full range of advisory, transactional and dispute resolution services in the specialist world of art and other collectables is a key part of the firm’s private wealth offering. We have offices in a number of the world’s key art centres and Ludo’s appointment gives our clients access to a leading practitioner in a highly specialised area of the law.’

Duncan Elson, head of litigation and dispute resolution, says: ’We are very pleased to welcome Ludo to our well established contentious team. Whilst Ludo has a wide experience of international litigation and arbitration matters, his highly regarded specialist practice will expand and enhance the range of contentious services we can offer and continue the growth of the litigation division.’

Ludo de Walden comments: ’I am delighted to join Charles Russell Speechlys: the firm’s internationalism and reputation, coupled with its extensive experience in private wealth, gives me an excellent platform on which to develop and expand my practice in the art law field.’