Simmons & Simmons has made two partner hires, strengthening its London corporate practice and its Milan litigation team.

The firm has hired Travers Smith counsel Caroline Murphy as a partner for its London corporate practice and brought in Hogan Lovells partner Cristina Pagni in Italy.

Murphy, who has worked with clients including Bridgepoint Capital and 3i, becomes the fourth partner in Simmons' London private equity team. Prior to joining Travers in 2006, Murphy was general counsel at furniture retailer Habitat, becoming the first person to hold the position when she left Clifford Chance in 2004.