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Proskauer in Talks With O'Melveny Partner to Launch U.K. Practice
Legal Week
August 30, 2007
Proskauer Rose is set to make its entrance into the London market with the New York law firm in talks to recruit the former head of O'Melveny & Myers' London arm to launch its U.K. law practice.
The firm is in advanced discussions with O'Melveny private equity partner Matthew Hudson about leading the new venture -- ending months of speculation about its entrance to London.
The London office would be Proskauer's 10th office overall but only its second in Europe alongside its Paris arm.
Proskauer partners are expected to vote on the hire within a matter of days, although it is understood that Hudson has yet to hand in his notice at O'Melveny.
Hudson joined O'Melveny in early 2004 as London managing partner. He led the office until earlier this year when the role was passed on to his former SJ Berwin colleague John Daghlian and former Ashurst corporate head Chris Ashworth -- with Hudson remaining chair of O'Melveny's European corporate finance and private equity practice.
O'Melveny's London arm has remained relatively small but earlier this summer it launched a litigation practice with two partners from Watson Farley & Williams -- taking it to a total of nine partners. Over the last year the firm has lost several partners in the U.S. as well as London private equity partner Andrew Carpenter and counsel Matthew Doughty, who joined Addleshaw Goddard.
Proskauer, which opened in Brazil earlier this year, had long-running merger talks with U.K. firm Richards Butler which broke down in 2005. Despite a spate of investment in its transactional practice, the top 50 U.S. firm remains best known for its top-tier labor practice.
