Herbert Smith's Benelux ally, Stibbe, has strengthened its Brussels arm with the hire of finance partner Ivan Peeters from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Peeters, whose practice focuses on securitisation work, will join the Benelux leader on 1 May. It is not yet known whether he will be accompanied by any associates.

He becomes Stibbe's first dedicated finance partner in Brussels and the sixth partner in its combined corporate and finance team.

The appointment continues a run of hires by Stibbe's Brussels arm, with Willkie Farr & Gallagher competition partner Marc van der Woude joining the firm last September and Linklaters De Bandt corporate finance counsel Pascal Borre also switching to Stibbe last year.

Peeters, meanwhile, becomes the latest in a long line of Freshfields partners to head for the exits in recent months. Other departures from the Brussels arm include competition partners Michael Schutte and Marc Reysen, who both quit the magic circle firm to joined join US practice Howrey last year.

Stibbe Brussels managing partner Olivier Clevenbergh said: "Ivan specialises in securitisations, which is very trendy in Belgium at the moment. We are very pleased to have him on board."