King & Spalding is launching its 20th international office in Chicago, following the hire of litigator Zachary Fardon.
After this office opening, the Atlanta-founded firm will have a total of 10 offices in the US.
Fardon most recently served as the US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, resigning from his post in March.
The move marks a return to King & Spalding for Fardon, who started his legal career at the firm between 1992 and 1996. After a series of government roles, Fardon joined Latham & Watkins in 2007 where he chaired the litigation department in Chicago for three years.
Fardon will become King & Spalding’s Chicago managing partner and head of litigation in the new office.
King & Spalding expects to add additional lawyers in the coming months and open a permanent location in the city.
The office will focus on government investigations, commercial litigation and work across the financial services and life sciences sectors.
According to The Lawyer’s Global 200 report 2017, King & Spalding’s top three jurisdictions were Atlanta, Washington DC and New York.
Its revenue broke $1bn for the second year running in the last financial year, with its lawyer numbers breaking through 1,000 for the first time.
King & Spalding turnover rose 4 per cent over 2016 amid a slowdown in City revenue of 8 per cent to $42.6m.
