LONDON (20 November 2006) – International law firm Dorsey & Whitney today emphatically confirmed its commitment to growing and developing its London office.  The firm has made up four new partners in London, effective 1st January 2007.  They are litigators Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry, Liesl Fichardt, and Mitchell Moss, as well as corporate lawyer Alex Paterson.

"We made up more new partners in London this year than any other Dorsey office.  We had an excellent group of lawyers to consider; we are growing; we are profitable; and we are confident.  We expect our success here to continue, and we expect to continue welcoming new partners in London for many years to come," said Paul Klaas, managing partner of Dorsey's London office and worldwide head of its litigation practice. 

Dorsey’s London office has grown to 40 lawyers, with 16 partners (including the four new partners and Mark Taylor, Corporate partner who joined Dorsey a few months ago), plus eight trainees.  Dorsey has also added seven new associates during the past year.  Four associates have joined the Corporate Group: Ian Logan, Moris Mashali, Johanna O’Shea and Tamara Smythe.  Three associates have joined the Trial Group: Matthew Blower, Paul Smith and Gaynor Dunmall.

New Partners

Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry is a general commercial litigator ranked by Chambers UK.  He has broad experience, particularly in banking and financial services litigation.  JP joined Dorsey in 2005 from Slaughter and May, where he worked for five years, after ten years at Allen Arthur Robinson Group in Australia.

Liesl Fichardt is a tax litigator and corporate tax advisor. She is a former judge of the High Court of South Africa and former chair of the South African Tax Board.  She has been actively involved in Dorsey’s GLO litigation against the Inland Revenue pending before the English courts and the European Court of Justice.    

Mitchell Moss is a tax litigator, with special expertise and experience in VAT litigation. He represents Dorsey clients, particularly from the financial services and automotive industries, in disputes with HM Revenue & Customs at all levels of the judicial system.

Alex Paterson is a corporate lawyer, with particular expertise in emerging companies, including spin-outs from major English universities.  He specialises in providing sector-focused corporate advice to clients in the technology industries.