Three Sidley Austin trade lawyers, including a partner who helped launch the firm’s Brussels office 19 years ago when he was still an associate, have left to join Baker McKenzie in Brussels.

Arnoud Willems, who was one of four lawyers who worked at Sidley Austin’s Brussels office when it launched in 2003, and more recently headed up the office’s EU trade and customs team until last December. He stepped down as a partner and became senior counsel “to facilitate the handover of the leadership” in January, he said.