Davis Polk & Wardwell’s co-head of M&A, Dennis Hersch, is to join key client JP Morgan as the New York powerhouse loses one of its most high profile corporate lawyers.

Hersch, a Davis Polk partner since 1978 and presently M&A co-head alongside George Bason, is regarded as one of Wall Street’s top corporate advisers. He is to chair JP Morgan’s M&A team.