Slaughter and May’s long-standing referral ties to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett look set to come under increasing strain as it emerges that the leading Wall Street firm is aiming to hire a senior UK corporate lawyer.

Legal Week has established that the US firm is looking for an M&A lawyer to bolster its fledgling UK law practice, despite last year assuring Slaughters its high profile appointment of Allen & Overy’s Euan Gorrie was a limited move into acquisition finance.