Lewis Silkin has rehired disputes partner Duran Ross from Hausfeld to strengthen the firm’s London office.

Ross departs Hausfeld after more than six years at the firm, including just over a year as a partner. He originally trained at Lewis Silkin before continuing his career at Linklaters as a two-year senior associate.

Before qualifying as a solicitor, Ross worked as a freelance website and graphic designer for eight years in Manchester. This experience in part informed his interest in technology disputes, building on his work in coding and website design. He has subsequently been involved in High Court proceedings relating to the misappropriation of software code and the application of technology to disputes.

His practice encompasses a broad span of disputes work, from classic High Court commercial litigation to sports cases, international arbitration, contentious insolvencies and professional negligence claims.

Over his career he has represented claimants and defendants, with clients including major banks, insolvency practitioners, start-ups, sports brands, founders, FTSE 100 CEOs, family offices, high-net-worth individuals and group claimants.

Mark Lim, head of dispute resolution at Lewis Silkin, said: “Having worked with Duran closely at the start of his career, it’s a real pleasure to welcome him back to Lewis Silkin, now as a partner.” 

Lim also praised the breadth of Ross’s work and his “genuine specialism and interest in insolvency matters and high-value proceedings involving technology”.

Ross said: “Knowing the firm well already, I’m delighted to be continuing to build my career with Lewis Silkin. Mark and the team have grown the practice considerably in recent years, bolstered by the firm’s expertise and understanding of its clients’ sectors – so it’s exciting to be back.”

Ross is the latest partner to join Lewis Silkin’s dispute resolution practice, following the arrival of Fraser Mitchell in London last November from Armstrong Teasdale and Kenix Yuen in Hong Kong in January from local disputes boutique Gall. The firm also recently marked a nine-partner promotions round, its largest to date, which included five women. IP lawyer Nicholas Buckland was the sole disputes specialist promoted in that round.

Hausfeld acknowledged that returning to the firm Ross trained with was pivotal to his decision. Global co-chair Anthony Maton said: “Duran has decided to return to Lewis Silkin, where he trained and spent his early years. While we are sorry, we will remain good friends and thank him for his work in assisting in growing the commercial litigation practice.” 

Despite Ross’s exit, Maton highlighted the firm’s strong team of commercial litigation partners, including co-managing partner Lianne Craig, John McElroy, Ned Beale, Lucy Pert, David Lawne and Simon Bishop.

The partners head a 25-strong legal team focused on purely commercial work, with Maton noting that the firm’s senior associate ranks had swelled with recruits from Slaughter and May, Pinsent Masons, Simmons & Simmons and leading New Zealand law firms.