Mishcon courts construction partner | Robert Li

A Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner construction litigator has moved to Mishcon de Reya in London, while Maitla…

A Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner construction litigator has moved to Mishcon de Reya in London, while Maitland Chambers has a new head.

Mishcon de Reya has recruited Alexandra Clough as a partner in its London real estate practice, effective Monday (12 June).

Clough has joined from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner where she was a partner, having joined legacy firm Berwin Leighton Paisner 17 years previously. She focuses on construction and engineering disputes where she has acted for contractors and developers as well as occupiers on litigation and adjudication, in addition to appearing in a variety of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings including arbitration and mediation.

She has advised on offices, retail premises, mixed use developments, and student and high-end residential schemes.

In a statement, Mishcon’s real estate practice chair Stephen Hughes put the hire in context: “With the addition of Alex, our real estate department now comprises 45 partners and over 130 lawyers, making us one of London’s largest and most comprehensive full-service real estate offerings,” and further highlighted Clough’s complementary and “specialist expertise in the contentious construction arena”.

Clough herself cited the firm’s “clear commitment to growth in the area of real estate and the built environment” as a key reason for joining.

Mishcon was one of three law firms to join the board of the crypto-asset industry network, Crypto Fraud and Asset Recovery (CFAAR), and elevated two disputes practitioners as part of its eight-strong partner promotions round, all in March.

MAITLAND ELECTS NEW LEADER 

Also in London on the same day, Maitland Chambers elected Michael Gibbon KC as head of chambers, succeeding outgoing head Christopher Pymont KC who remains a tenant at the set.

A former investment banking professional in capital markets and corporate finance at Barclays de Zoete Wedd (now Barclays Investment Bank), Gibbon later trained as a barrister and is admitted to practice in the British Virgin Islands, as well as in England and Wales.

His advisory and litigation practice is focused on chancery matters such as company and commercial, financial services, trusts, and insolvency and reorganisation.

His work highlights include leading for the appellant in the Court of Appeal case of Official Receiver v Shop Direct, involving a time bar related to the mis-selling of payment protection insurance. He has also advised on fiduciary duties, tax treatment of debt securities and rateable value of commercial premises.

Gibbon himself said in a statement: “I am delighted to be taking on this role at an exciting time for Maitland, as we continue to focus on providing excellent advocacy in Courts and Tribunals in England and overseas. It is an honour to be head of a great chambers with its friendly and forward-looking approach, and I will do my best to carry on the work of Christopher Pymont KC, who has served with great distinction.”

In February Maitland Chambers gained two barristers from 36 Stone including its head of chambers, adding substantial civil fraud, asset recovery and crypto-asset experience.