Buyout executives rarely move firms, but it’s very different for the lawyers they employ. There has been a brisk trade in private equity partners between law firms over the past few years, with US firms keen to snap up the best lawyers that London has to offer in a bid to win lucrative buyout work from their UK rivals.

US firm Latham & Watkins recently hired several private equity partners, including Tom Evans and private equity head David Walker from Clifford Chance. In October, White & Case hired two of Linklaters' most senior private equity partners, Richard Youle and Ian Bagshaw.