Davis Polk Nabs Jones Day’s M&A Global Chief

James Dougherty, the leader of Jones Day’s M&A practice, has left the law firm after nearly two decades to join rival Davis Polk & Wardwell.

Dougherty will join Davis Polk “in the coming weeks,” Neil Barr, the firm’s chair and managing partner, said Wednesday in an internal email viewed by Bloomberg Law.

Davis Polk confirmed Barr’s email, but declined to comment further.

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Dougherty’s departure comes as Greg Shumaker takes over as the influential firm’s first new leader in more than 20 years. Shumaker officially took the top spot at Jones Day on Jan. 1.

“Jones Day has a leading global M&A practice, and has advised on over $4 trillion in deals over the past two decades,” a Jones Day spokesperson told Bloomberg Law when asked for comment about Dougherty’s departure.

“While from time to time, lawyers will make decisions for their own personal reasons, demand for our services continues unabated, and we look forward to serving our clients for all of their M&A and other transactional needs,” the firm spokesperson said. Jones Day “has been considering and is implementing practice leadership changes in connection with its transition to a new managing partner,” he added.