King & Spalding's London expansion continues with multi-partner WilmerHale team

King & Spalding has recruited a five-partner international arbitration and litigation team from WilmerHale, marking the latest step in the firm's rapid London expansion.

The incoming group will join the Atlanta-headquartered firm’s international disputes practice across London, New York and Washington, D.C. and will be co-led by renowned international arbitrator Gary Born (London/New York).

The team also includes two London-based partners Franz Schwarz and Marleen Krueger, alongside Rachael Kent and Danielle Morris, both based in Washington, D.C.

Disputes boost

Born previously led WilmerHale's international arbitration practice. At King & Spalding, he will co-lead the firm's international disputes practice alongside Atlanta-based partner Elizabeth Silbert.

The incoming team has worked together for roughly two decades and advises on cross-border disputes spanning energy, financial services, pharmaceuticals and technology, as well as public international law and investment treaty disputes.

King & Spalding chair Robert Hays said the combination of the two teams would make the firm's disputes practice "truly peerless in international arbitration and litigation”, and that the London office continues to be a “high-priority growth target” for the firm.

Schwarz (London) will lead the firm's civil law team, and has acted in more than 300 arbitrations. Kent (Washington, D.C.), Krueger (London) and Morris (Washington, D.C.) bring experience across commercial arbitration, investor-state disputes and public international law matters.

London expansion

The move comes just weeks after King & Spalding expanded its footprint at 8 Bishopsgate for the second time in two years as its London headcount continues to grow. The office now houses around 50 partners and occupies seven floors in the building.

The firm has also been active in the lateral market adding four London-based partners in the year, including corporate real estate partner Ray Fang from Goodwin and competition specialist Jade-Alexandra Fearns from Paul Hastings.

King & Spalding's London office recorded revenue growth of 48% to $148.2 million in the last financial year.