US law firm Squire Patton Boggs is beefing up its European shipping operations with a new office in Geneva, Switzerland.
The company’s 17th European office is being run by financial services partner and commodities & shipping group co-head Kate Sherrard, who has previously worked in Singapore.
She will focus on building around core strengths including commodities, shipping, international trade, international dispute resolution, government investigations and sanctions.
Sherrard said: “The world’s leading commodities houses are in Geneva, which makes for a natural initial focal point for us given the synergies with our extensive international practice in this space.”
She said talks are already taking place with potential new recruits in “complementary areas”.
“Our expectation is to grow in accordance with our strategy,” Sherrard said.
Mark Ruehlmann, global chief executive of Squire Patton Boggs, said Switzerland is an important global hub for commerce, policy and international disputes where the firm has many existing relationships.
“Our new Geneva office is an affirmation of our commitment to meeting the multi-jurisdictional needs of clients doing business in major international commercial centres,” he said.
The Geneva launch continues an expansion strategy in which the firm opened offices in Amsterdam and Dublin, doubled its size in Madrid and Paris and added new lawyers across the UK and Germany, as well as in Milan, Italy.
Steve Mahon, global managing partner of clients & strategy, said: “Kate is a strong leader with extensive local business connections. We are excited to hit the ground running.”
In November, Squire Patton Boggs brought across a team from collapsed rival Ince & Co to bolster its litigation practice in Hong Kong.
Ruaridh Guy joined the firm’s commodities & shipping group along with associates Lauras Rambinas and Tina Wong.
