US law firm Squire Patton Boggs has continued its shipping and commodities expansion in London with the addition of three Clyde & Co lawyers.
Robert Parson joins the financial services practice in the city as a partner, having been head of Clyde's trade and commodity finance team.
Also decamping to Squire are senior associates Geraldine Butac and Jennifer Greengrass, who specialise in trade and ship finance.
Parson has more than 30 years' experience in commodities and trade finance law, with a practice focused on structuring deals and complex cross-border financing arrangements for banks, traders, exporters and other participants in the global trade market.
"Robert is one of the leading trade finance lawyers in Europe with a track record in advising on some of the most significant and innovative trade and commodity finance transactions,” said Jonathan Jones, European managing partner at Squire.
"The depth of knowledge and connections that Robert and his team bring presents exciting synergies in key areas of our business, whilst giving us access to new clients. We are delighted to have them join us.”
HFW raided last year
The move follows the recruitment of six lawyers from HFW in June last year to beef up the new shipping and commodities group as demand boomed in the pandemic.
Washington DC-headquartered Squire founded the division in November 2019 by recruiting two Reed Smith partners, Barry Stimpson and Jessica Kenworthy.
Partners Chris Swart and Katie Pritchard were added, plus director John Rollason, senior associate Gabriella Martin, and associates Joseph Magoon and Patrick Greaney.
"A renowned specialist in this field, Robert and his team will strengthen our commodities and trade finance capability in Europe, enhancing our global services to clients," said Swart, who is co-head of the firm's commodity and shipping industry group.
Kenworthy, who started the firm's trade finance practice from Singapore, added that Parson is well known to the team and highly rated.
"Working closely with our existing trade finance practice and Kate Sherrard's ship finance team in Singapore, we look forward to Robert and his team assisting our clients with even greater bench strength in a key jurisdiction," she said.
Parson said he was attracted to Squire's growing commodities and shipping platform and collegial culture, as well as the opportunity to rejoin former colleagues.
