Ashurst has hired a New York tax partner from Dentons and made an internal promotion to strengthen its US tax practice.

The firm has recruited Jeffrey Koppele from Dentons while making up tax counsel Sharon Kim to partner in the office.

Ashurst US managing partner Andy Fraiser said: "Having leading US tax capability will play a critical role in supporting our global structured products, equity and debt capital markets, high yield, banking and fund formation practices, as well as our domestic US transactional practices."

Koppele had been a partner at Dentons for seven years. He joined the firm when it merged with US-based Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal in 2010, where he had worked for two years. Before that, he also worked as a tax associate for Weil Gotshal & Manges and Latham & Watkins.

He specialises in advising capital markets clients on tax matters and derivatives transactions.

Kim joined Ashurst as a counsel in 2009 from the firm's former US ally McKee Nelson, where she was an associate.

With the new appointments, Ashurst's New York office will consist of 21 lawyers including five partners.

Earlier this year the Anglo-Australian firm restructured its US finance practice, resulting in the departure of all partners with a focus on collaterised loan obligation (CLO) work.

A six-strong group departed to US firm Chapman & Cutler, while partner Larry Berkovich joined Allen & Overy.

There has also been a flurry of departures from Ashurst's London office.

This month, disputes partner Ben Giaretta left for Mishcon de Reya, while White & Case has hired London corporate partner Dominic Ross.

In late October, corporate partner James Wood left the firm to join Sidley Austin's London base.

Recent hires for the firm include German banking partner Martin Kaiser from Baker Mckenzie in September and banking senior associate Tamer Bahgat from Allen & Overy in March.