Clyde & Co is launching an office in Bristol next year following the hire of two insurance disputes partners from Kennedys and Womble Bond Dickinson.

Kennedys London partner John Eastlake will launch the office alongside Bristol-based Womble Bond Dickinson partner Ian Peacock.

The pair will be partners in the firm's UK professional and financial disputes (PFD) group.

Clydes senior partner Simon Konsta said: "We are focused on serving our clients when and where they need us, and this focus has driven our global and regional insurance growth strategy over the past decade. Bristol is a key centre for professional and financial disputes work and having John and Ian on board gives us a great foundation, as well as a platform for further growth."

Clydes' UK PFD group, which includes more than 150 lawyers, is currently based across Oxford, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Scotland.

This week, the firm announced the hire of BLM London head Jennette Newman alongside BLM insurance partner Jonathan Edwards. The firm also bolstered its Asia-Pacific offering through an association with Malaysian firm Shaikh David & Co.

Earlier this year, Clydes picked up a five-strong intellectual property team in China and hired a team of five marine focused lawyer from Eversheds Sutherland earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Peacock's exit from Womble Bond Dickinson comes after the merger of the UK's Bond Dickinson and US firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice went live on 1 November, creating a £340m firm.