US and international law firm McDermott Will & Emery has hired Martyn Gowar and Andrew Vergunst to establish an international private client team in the firm’s London office.

Mr Gowar has been a senior partner at Lawrence Graham and consultant to Penningtons, while Mr Vergunst joins from the London office of Maitland, where he held positions as group director, law partner and the head of their private client department.

Carol Harrington, head of the firm-wide private client group, said: “We are delighted that Martyn and Andrew have decided to join us to establish our first dedicated private client capability outside of the US.  London was the obvious choice for us because it is pivotal for a firm with a focus on international estate planning. Our goal is to provide our international clients with best in class private client advice in a choice of jurisdictions from which to manage their affairs."

Private client capability aleady exists within the German offices of McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater via the services of the leading tax team there and in the Italian offices of McDermott Will & Emery Studio Legale Associato.