Simmons & Simmons has transferred its New York managing partner to Qatar to head up the local branch – leaving its American base lawyerless – as the firm rejigs its US practice.

Andrew Wingfield, a corporate lawyer whose clients include AIG, Credit Lyonnais Securities, Prudential Financial, Sun Capital Partners and UBS, has been head of Simmons’ New York office since 1998. He recently relocated to become managing partner of the top 20 UK firm’s Doha practice.