International law firm Simmons & Simmons has announced the lateral hire of ten new partners across seven offices, marking a significant step in the firm’s ongoing international expansion strategy.
All ten partners will join the firm in January across London, Paris, Brussels, Luxembourg, Singapore, Dubai and Dublin, further strengthening Simmons & Simmons’ five core sectors and client offering.
The new hires follow a year of strong growth for the firm, which has seen it open two new offices in Saudi Arabia and the Abu Dhabi Global Market, expand existing practices, and make key promotions.
Simmons & Simmons has also been recognised for its widespread adoption of award-winning AI tools – including its own in-house platform Percy, which has secured multiple awards, including an FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Award – as well as its rollout of legal AI agents to support its clients.
The new partner hires follow growing client demand for the firm’s deep sector expertise, and reflect the firm’s commitment to investing in its international network and cross-border capabilities – a strategic priority for Global Managing Partner, Emily Monastiriotis.
The ten new partners joining Simmons & Simmons in January 2026 are:
- Ali Fagan, London, Dispute Resolution, Construction
- Emmanuel-Frédéric Henrion, Luxembourg, Funds
- Ermine Bolot, Paris, Corporate
- Hannah Shipley, Dubai, Tax
- Henry Bennet-Gough, London, Tax
- Louise Dobbyn, Dublin, Financial Services Regulation
- Mark Chivers, London, Corporate
- Michelle Phang, Singapore, Corporate
- Oliver Wicker, London, Structured Finance and Derivatives
- Stefan Nerinckx, Brussels, Employment
Emily Monastiriotis, Global Managing Partner, commented: “Hiring this outstanding group of international partners is a clear statement of our momentum and ambition. Over the past year, we have expanded into new markets, grown our practices, and continued the rapid adoption of our award-winning AI tools.
“Investing in our global network is a priority for me, as it allows us to respond to our clients’ demand for highly specialised, cross-border expertise. Increasingly, top-tier partners are choosing Simmons & Simmons; they recognise that we stand out through our embrace of legal innovation, collaborative environment, and our exceptional sector expertise and international reach. I’m really excited to welcome this group and look forward to them supporting our growth ambitions in 2026 and beyond.”
