UK Firm Set to Hire at Least 10 McKee Nelson Partners for US Presence

The British law firm Ashurst is in advanced talks to acquire at least 10 finance partners from McKee Nelson, giving the British law firm a presence in New York and Washington, D.C.

Leading the McKee Nelson finance team is partner William Gray, Legal Week reports. Ashurst is also seeking to hire a number of McKee Nelson associates, according to the report.

Currently Ashurst has a New York outpost “but the McKee Nelson team would be its first substantial move into U.S. law,” according to the story.

Ashurst has had a marketing and referral alliance with McKee Nelson’s structured finance practice for about five years. The U.S. firm saw profits per partner drop last year by about 15 percent and laid off 17 corporate finance associates and 15 staffers in November.

Hat tip to The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.