Playtech and DLA Piper legal chiefs move to Wiggin

Playtech general counsel David McLeish (pictured, left) is leaving the supplier to join law firm Wiggin in a double swoop which also sees DLA Piper partner Stephen Ketteley (pictured, right) making a move to the media and technology specialists.

McLeish will become partner within Wiggin’s Betting & Gaming practice on 1 February, with his move following hot on the heels of the appointment of Ketteley, who joined the London-based firm at the start of this month.

Ketteley, who had led DLA Piper’s gaming arm, will co-head the practice alongside long-serving Wiggin partner Jason Chess, who in leading the team in recent years has built a client list which includes the likes of the Rational Group, IGT and the Perform Group.

Meanwhile Ketteley, who will be joined at Wiggin by DLA Piper associate Chris Elliott later this month, has been pre-eminent in the gaming industry for around a decade, working alongside major clients such as bet365 and William Hill.

Wiggin said the expansion of its gaming arm was the “next phase” in its development and would enable the practice to offer the full range of legal services to its growing list of clients.

“David and Stephen bring with them unequalled expertise and knowledge of the industry and I very much look forward to working with them to guide our clients through all the changes that the industry will face,” Chess said.

The appointments will also see Ketteley and McLeish reunited, with the pair having been partners at law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner before their respective departures to DLA Piper and Playtech in 2011 and 2012.

A spokesperson for Playtech this morning said it was in the process of interviewing for McLeish’s replacement.