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Hogan Lovells has seen its first partner departure in Europe since the confirmation of the trans-Atlantic merger deal, with Moscow corporate partner Ilya Rybalkin set to join U.S. firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.
Rybalkin, a partner at Hogan & Hartson, will join Akin Gump's Moscow office in July, bringing with him a broad corporate practice, including international and domestic tax, M&A and corporate restructurings.
He becomes the ninth partner in Akin Gump's base in the Russian capital, which is headed up by corporate partner Richard Wilkie.
It is understood that a number of associates will follow Rybalkin at a later date.
Hogan Lovells' Moscow office, which is headed up by Oxana Balayan, is left with nine partners.
Rick Burdick, Akin Gump's managing partner for international offices and head of the firm's international corporate transactions practice, commented: "Ilya is well-known and widely respected in the marketplace. He is a skilled practitioner whose diverse and vibrant practice will enhance our capabilities in Moscow."
In a statement, Hogan Lovells said: "We are sorry to see Ilya go but understand the reasons for his departure. We'd like to thank him for his work in developing the former Hogan & Hartson office in Moscow. His departure will not have any impact on the corporate or tax advice provided by the Hogan Lovells Moscow office."
In April, Akin Gump launched in Switzerland when Hogan's Geneva office opted out of the Lovells merger in favor of a move to the U.S. firm.
The seven-lawyer team -- which includes office head Charles Adams and partners Michael Stepek and Jonathan Ivinson -- moved across to Akin Gump on May 1, handing the firm its third European office alongside Moscow and London.
