Clifford Chance set to grab 21 partners from Brobecks

RIFT: US firm turns back on City giant's olive branch

Magic circle firm Clifford Chance has offered positions to 21 partners of San Francisco-based Brobeck Phleger & Harrison, with a view to setting up a US west coast office.

So far, 15 partners have tendered their resignation at Brobeck, in addition to former chairman Tower Snow - who was expelled by the firm for approaching Clifford Chance to initiate the deal.

However, there has been no contact between the two firms' management teams - despite efforts by Clifford Chance.

'I travelled to San Francisco with the intention of speaking to a senior partner at Brobecks, but had none of my calls returned,' said Peter Charlton, Clifford Chance's London managing partner.

'The only contact has been through lawyers, but we are trying to deal with the situation in as professional manner as possible and harbour hopes for an amicable conclusion.'

Clifford Chance's 650 partners voted in favour of the move last week, following months of discussions between the parties.

Chief executive officer Michael Bray said: 'Tower contacted us at the turn of the year suggesting he was considering leaving Brobecks with a group of people.

It was very timely as we have always understood the strategic importance of the Californian legal market and have been looking for the right opportunity to establish an office there.'

'We want to get 150 lawyers on the ground in California as soon as possible,' said Mr Bray.

'It is our ambition to become the premier global law firm and we need a significant presence in the US.'

Brobeck chairman Richard Odum said the firm was glad now to be in a situation 'where those partners who want to be here are and those who don't aren't'.

Andrew Towler