Latham & Watkins has hired a senior tax partner in London from top UK independent Travers Smith. 

Simon Skinner has joined the US firm after 18 years at Travers, where he previously led the tax team. He advises clients on complex corporate tax and corporate tax planning matters, including the tax aspects of corporate finance and private equity transactions, public and private M&A, demergers, joint ventures, restructurings and debt and equity capital markets transactions.

Katharine Moir, global chair of Latham’s tax department, commented: “Beyond adding a talented partner to the team, Simon also brings entrepreneurship and excellent commercial acumen, which will support our strategic priorities and the expansion of our practice. He is technically very strong, knowledgeable and an outstanding team player. His experience advising on innovative domestic and international transactions will enhance our global practice and provide significant value to our clients.”

At Travers, Skinner worked on deals including Bridgepoint’s investment in itsu, Auction Technology Group’s £600m Main Market IPO and EV charging network operator InstaVolt’s acquisition by EQT Infrastructure V Fund. He led Travers’ tax team for three years from the start of 2017, having joined the firm in 2006 after a decade at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. 

“Simon is a great fit for our practice,” said Ed Barnett, managing partner of Latham’s London office. “His experience steering sophisticated transactions is complementary to our private equity, M&A, finance, capital markets and restructuring capabilities in London and across Europe.”

Travers’ current head of tax is Russell Warren, who took over from Skinner’s successor Emily Clark in September 2022. Meantime Jessica Kemp, who was made head of M&A tax at the same time as Warren’s appointment, left the firm early last year for White & Case – one of a number of high-profile defections from the firm in 2023 that included former head of private equity Ian Shawyer’s move to Cleary in May and a trio of funds partners that joined Simpson Thacher & Bartlett over the course of the year. 

The exits from Travers have slowed this year, though Skinner’s move follows respected corporate M&A and ECM partner Richard Spedding leaving to join Linklaters in May, just a few weeks after Goodwin Procter recruited private equity M&A partners Ian Keefe and George Weavil from the firm. 

Going the other way, Travers, which grew profit by 18% in the year ending 30 June 2024 to £1.3m, hired funds lawyer Joel Grossmark in the summer from Blackstone Credit and Insurance to expand its retailisation practice. 

A Travers spokesperson said of Skinner’s move: “We would like to thank Simon for his contribution to the firm and wish him all the best in his new role.”

Following Skinner’s arrival, Latham’s London tax team will have seven partners, including leading practitioners like Helen Lethaby. The practice is noted by Chambers for its transactional work and ability to handle cross-border matters, particularly those with a US element. 

Latham’s London office has had its own comings and goings recently, including a team of five sponsor-side leveraged finance partners led by Jayanthi Sadanandan and Sam Hamilton that migrated to Sidley Austin in August. The same month a six-lawyer finance team led by partner Alex Martin defected to Milbank, though on the hiring side corporate partner Melanie Howard joined the office earlier this month from Baker McKenzie and in July leveraged finance partners Jonathan Brownson, Joydeep Choudhuri and Prue Criddle moved over from Cahill. 

The office has nearly 500 lawyers in total, making it the largest US law firm in the UK by headcount, and in 2023 grew revenue 7% to £588m, according to Legal Cheek. Earlier this month corporate lawyer Ed Barnett took over as the office’s managing partner from Stephen Kensell.