Steptoe & Johnson Rakisons has taken on Hammond Suddards Edge corporate associate Farzana Rao as a corporate partner.

Steptoes London head of corporate Jonathan Polin stated that Rao had brought a number of clients with her. "We are always looking to pick up lawyers with a following," he said.

She will be the sixth partner in the corporate department of the firm's London office, and the fifth partner to join since Rakisons merged with US firm Steptoe & Johnson in January, with the firm's also attracting senior appointments from Rowe & Maw and Hammonds' former Manchester litigation head Ian Meredith.

Rao started at the beginning of September.

The firm is currently trying to boost the numbers in its corporate department. Polin said the firm hoped to double the size of its corporate team over the next 12 months.

"We are excited about the arrival of Farzana," said Steptoes managing partner Tony Wollenberg. "Since the merger we have been looking for candidates who possess a high standard of work experience and commercial nous," he added.

"Clearly with a newly merged firm there are many opportunities," said Rao, who was based in Hammonds' London office.

"To be able to work in an international firm with a very strong presence in the telecoms, technology and energy industries was an incentive to make the move," she added.