Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) partner James Bremen has left the firm to set up a UK construction disputes practice at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.
Bremen has been a partner at HSF since 2011, leading the firm’s contentious and non-contentious construction practices in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
He joined HSF from King & Spalding after two years at the firm, also holding roles at Maxwell Winward, White & Case and McCullough Robertson.
Bremen will chair Quinn Emanuel’s construction practice in London, dividing his time between London and Qatar.
He has advised the State of Qatar and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on infrastructure projects and disputes for over a decade, as well as represented clients in emerging markets such as Malaysia and the CIS.
The hire follows that of DLA Piper’s City competition head Kate Vernon back in March. The US firm also recruited from HSF back in 2013, hiring litigation partner Ted Greeno.