West Coast-based Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has hired Sidley Austin Brown & Wood London head of corporate Mark Pinder.
The moves comes three months after US firms Brown & Wood and Sidley & Austin merged to create one of the largest US firms.
The hire of Pinder will be a boost for Gibson Dunn, which has failed to make the headway it planned for its London office.
Earlier this month the firm saw partner Stephen Ball move to client Flag Telecom, who made headlines after joining from investment bank Nomura last year.
With the hire the firm now has 11 partners in London and is currently planning further expansion in Europe. The corporate group in London now comprises five partners, three of whom are UK-qualified and two US-qualified.
Pinder will specialise in cross-border deals as well as hostile take-overs and public equity and capital issues.
Pinder has previously worked at Travers Smith Braithwaite as an associate, becoming a partner in 1993. In 1997 he moved to Sidley & Austin and became the London head of corporate.
Gibson Dunn managing partner Wesley G.Howell added: “Our strategy is to build international strength by securing local experts to expand the London office.”
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