Simmons & Simmons Nabs Herbert Smith Freehills’ Competition Partner

Simmons & Simmons has nabbed a partner from Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) in its latest London hire, reported Law.com

Competition partner Mark Jephcott is joining the firm’s London dispute resolution practice, according to a statement by Simmons on Thursday, September 2.

The hire comes as several firms look to bulk up their competition practices. In recent months, longtime Clifford Chance competition partner Jenine Hulsmann left to join Weil Gotshal & Manges, while on Thursday, Addleshaw Goddard hired an Ashurst partner to launch a competition and distribution practice in Paris.

Jephcott joins from HSF where he was partner for over 10 years and originally launched the firm’s Asia competition practice before relocating to the UK, Simmons’ statement added.

His experience includes competition appeals and multijurisdictional mergers, among other things. His addition is a continuation of Simmons’ London hiring streak in recent months, with the firm adding Baker McKenzie partner and global co-head of renewable energy Marc Fèvre in April, as well as Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s EMEA head of restructuring and insolvency Ben Jones.

In a statement, Simmons’ competition and antitrust lead Satyen Dhana said, “With his extensive experience in building competition practices in various international jurisdictions, Mark will be well placed to help drive the ambitious growth plan that we have here at Simmons.”

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