Taylor Wessing’s embattled French office has lost the majority of its partnership, with 12 non-equity partners resigning to join US firm Nixon Peabody.
Eight partners, six of whom six are in the equity, remain at Taylor Wessing France (TWF) after the resignations.
TWF and Nixon Peabody are involved in two New York legal battles after the US firm allegedly poached TWF’s partners in violation of a non-disclosure agreement after merger talks between the firms fell apart (as reported 11 August).
In the defence to Nixon Peabody’s motion for a preliminary injunction, which was filed on Monday 18 August, TWF said: “Last week, [12 TWF] non-equity partners provided TWF with their notices of intent to leave.”
The defence adds that the non-equity partners are on three and six month notice periods and that the 12 non-equity partners and TWF’s former managing partner Arnaud de Senilhes (pictured) have already accepted offers of partnership from Nixon Peabody.
TWF salaried partners Alain de Foucaud and Paul-Albert Iweins have accepted the offer to enter TWF’s tight equity partnership (as reported 7 August). Two other non-equity partners who had also been offered equity have now resigned.
