Michelman Robinson has launched its first international office in London, marking a major milestone in the firm’s evolution and expanding its ability to serve clients in one of the world’s most dynamic legal and financial centers.
Founded in Los Angeles in 1999, MR has grown steadily across the United States, building a reputation for business-minded counsel in sectors including financial services, advertising and digital media, hospitality, insurance, music, aviation, and technology. The London launch answers the call of clients with cross-border interests who have long sought the firm’s presence overseas.
“London is not only a gateway to international markets, it’s a stage on which our brand of strategic, business-first lawyering can truly shine,” said Sanford Michelman, Chairman and Co-Founder of the firm. “This move is entirely client-driven. We’ve listened, and now we’re here.”
The London office, which is operated by MR’s affiliate Michelman & Robinson UK LLP, will initially focus on dispute resolution and corporate crime and investigations, while also extending MR’s capabilities in restructuring, corporate law, finance, insurance, aviation, labour and employment, ESG, technology, and IP. Helping to lead the launch is Hooman Yazhari, a seasoned restructuring partner with cross-continental experience and a reputation for building high-performing teams.
“London is the natural next step for the firm, and our opportunity to reimagine what a transatlantic law firm can be,” Yazhari said. “We’re not importing a template—we’re building something unique: a collaborative, nimble, people-first culture that attracts the very best talent and puts clients at the center of everything we do.”
Already, the firm has welcomed litigation partner Daniel Burbeary , along with highly respected finance lawyer Andrew Shutter, and is assembling a top-tier global corporate crime and investigations team, including Ruth Paley, Polly Sprenger, and John Gibson, all of whom are expected to join through 2025. Lily Dou, a specialist forensic accountant who has advised on some of the largest corporate crime enforcement cases in the UK, has also joined the London office as a partner to build out the full-service investigations offering. The MR London partnership is currently operating as a non-SRA authorised law firm while its application for authorisation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority remains pending.
Members of the Bar of England and Wales, Paley, Sprenger, and Gibson are currently working with MR on an interim consultancy basis, assisting with the set-up of operations and helping to shape its culture and vision. In the meantime, they continue to act in a number of high-profile and complex client matters as self-employed practitioners, until they are formally admitted to the MR London partnership following the grant of the requisite regulatory permissions.
In the meantime, Michelman adds, “Our presence in London signals more than growth; it signals intent. We’re building a global platform equipped for modern legal challenges and positioning our clients—current and future—to always be three moves ahead.”