Miller ends accord with Hextalls to form London office

City practice Hextall Erskine and Chicago-based Clausen Miller are to end their international partnership so the US law firm can establish a London office of its own.

The multinational practice, which was established in 1999 under the name Clausen Miller Europe, is to give way after the departure of three Hextall partners to open the office.

John Startin, who brokered the initial 1999 deal with Clausen Miller, Nigel Plant and Jane Beacham are all set to move on 12 July, leaving Hextalls with 17 partners.

A joint statement from the two practices said: 'This move enables both firms to direct energies towards their respective core business areas.

Having worked alongside each other for the last 21 years, both John Bundy, senior partner of Hextalls and John Startin intend that a close relationship shall continue.'

Both firms, which specialise in insurance litigation, joined forces in a relationship then described by Mr Startin as 'more than a network, but falling short of a merger'.

The split coincides with the decision to rebrand Hextall Erskine as just Hextalls.

Andrew Towler