Starting off in the capital, the most high-profile move of the week sees private equity specialist Mark Soundy, previously a partner at City firm Travers Smith Braithwaite, join the London office of US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges.


Corporate partner Steven Bryan joins Lovells’ energy and utilities team from City rival Simmons & Simmons.



Company/commercial specialist Nick Elverston joins Herbert Smith’s communications practice from City giant Clifford Chance.



James Burdett leaves Herbert Smith to join the London office of Baker & McKenzie as a partner in the corporate department.



Mark Shulman, previously at Hextalls, has joined Cumberland Ellis Peirs as head of the employment department. Meanwhile, Neil Turner, a property litigator, has been elected senior partner.



Marriott Harrison has a new corporate partner; Hugh Gardner joins from the London office of US firm Coudert Brothers. The firm now has 13 partners.



Ed Anderson has been promoted to partner at Browne Jacobson’s London-based professional indemnity department. The firm now has 50 partners in London, Birmingham and Nottingham.



Berlin Bar member and English-qualified solicitor Ute Mueller has been promoted to partner in London firm Dawsons’ corporate department.



Two promotions in the healthcare litigation department at Hempsons: Julie Austin in London and Kirsten Blohm in Manchester. The firm now has 34 partners.



Three new partners for St Albans-based Sherrards: Alex Drake has been promoted in the estate planning department, while Robert Farrant, previously at national firm Pinsents’ Birmingham office, and Paul Marmor from City firm Stallard strengthen the commercial litigation team.



On the south coast, property development specialist Martin Duck joins Southampton’s Moore & Blatch as a partner designate from the Owen-Kenny Partnership in Chichester.



Fiona Shorte has been promoted to partner at Bromsgrove firm SC Gray & Co’s litigation department.



Two new partners for Bristol firm Bevans. Guy Hollebon is promoted to head of employment while William Power, who was previously at Thring Townsend in Bath, will head the property team. The firm now has five partners.



Moving north, commercial property specialist Lorraine Lockie scores a hat-trick by becoming the first female senior associate, partner and now managing partner at Stockport firm Gorvins.



In Hong Kong, national firm Hammonds has recruited a new managing partner: investment and finance specialist Anthony Chan joins from the local office of City firm Barlow Lyde & Gilbert.