Clyde & Co embraces Hermes Netburn O'Connor & Spearing to launch in Boston

Clyde & Co embraces Hermes Netburn O'Connor & Spearing to launch in Boston

The UK insurance giant opens its 15th arm in the US

One of the top 20 UK law firms, Clyde & Co has taken over 14-lawyer Boston-based firm Hermes, Netburn, O'Connor, & Spearing as it continues to expand in the US. The new Boston office will work closely with Clyde & Co's existing East Coast teams in New York and New Jersey.

The deal is the latest of a flurry of mergers beginning this year, with large law firms building their presence in the US.

The Hermes Netburn team focuses on insurance coverage, surety and fidelity and civil litigation matters, particularly around product liability, toxic torts, and construction. It includes partners Kevin O'Connor, Holly Polglase and John Felice, founder and long-time president Peter Hermes and fellow founding member Peter Netburn.

Carolena Gordon, the senior partner at Clyde & Co said: "This office further enhances our offering in the North-eastern region of the US. New England is home to a vibrant insurance, biotech, healthcare and professional services ecosystem, which we are ideally placed to support."

O'Connor remarked, "Joining Clyde & Co was the natural next step for us, with clear synergies between our practices and clients. Our clients in Boston and beyond stand to benefit significantly as does our entire team. We will make the most of the national and global opportunities to grow and develop our practices and people."

O'Connor has been with Hermes Netburn since its inception in 1994. He specializes in insurance coverage and surety matters, advising national and international property and casualty insurers, reinsurers, and insurance claim administrators.

Polglase was with Hermes Netburn since 2011. She is a trial lawyer with expertise in product liability matters, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, toxic torts, asbestos and general liability, and commercial laws. For over two decades, she served at Campbell Campbell Edwards & Conroy.

Similarly, trial lawyer Felice brings extensive experience representing manufacturers, distributors, businesses, premises owners and their insurers in areas including toxic exposure cases. He also represents insurers on coverage matters and bad faith and unfair claims. He has been with Hermes Netburn for over 14 years, having joined from Pierce Davis & Perritano.

The Boston office is Clyde & Co's 15th in the US, adding to its most recent openings in Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Denver back in 2021. Recently, it also added international outposts in Milan, Bangkok and Calgary.