Baker & McKenzie has scooped the cream of Coudert Brothers’ US practice – landing 25 of the embattled firm’s partners, including current chairman Clyde Rankin and most of the major department heads.

The team is made up of 25 partners, 30 associates and 15 other fee earners from Coudert’s New York HQ and includes all the firm’s central practice leadership – a deal which substantially upgrades the Chicago-based giant’s Manhattan practice.