Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s former US managing partner Julian Pritchard has relocated back to London following a spate of recent hires for the magic circle firm’s New York base.

The M&A partner, who specialises in private equity, had been based in New York since 2007. His tenure as US managing partner came to an end in April this year, when litigator Adam Siegel took up a three-year term in the role.