Allen & Overy (A&O) has rescued the former managing partner of struggling Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft’s Beijing office.

As reported by The American Lawyer Mark Roppel will join A&O from the struggling New York firm as a partner in its corporate practice

Roppel along with 5 Associates had headed Cadwalader’s Beijing office since 2006, will be based in Shanghai but will spread his time between Beijing and Hong Kong.

from the The American Lawyer

“A&O’s head of US law, David Johnson said: “With his immense experience, Mark will immediately broaden our US M&A capabilities and significantly strengthen our existing capital markets practice in Hong Kong, China and across the region.” A&O has around 100 lawyers in its China practice operating from offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. ”

Could it be Partners are beginning to jump ship after the Cadwalader’s nightmare redundancies…?

Roppel claims his decision is unrelated to the 96 lawyer redundancies

We thinks not. But its a nice thought.