Simmons & Simmons is to launch a standalone Dutch IT practice with the hire of DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary partner Job Rietkerk.

Rietkerk, who had been a partner at DLA Piper’s locallybranded arm DLA SchutGrosheide since 2002, will join the top-20 City firm’s 111-lawyer Rotterdam office in August after resigning this week.