Simmons & Simmons has boosted its international offering after securing a merger with Spanish firm Mochales & Palacios and hiring a new practice head in the Middle East.

The top 10 City firm has agreed a merger with Madrid-based Mochales, with the move adding four partners to a combined Spanish practice that now numbers 27 lawyers. Simmons has transferred City-based projects head Richard Armitage to Madrid to become Spanish managing partner.

Mochales focuses primarily on corporate work and was formed by name partners Andres Mochales and Emilio Palacios. The pair will join Simmons along with two other partners, Carlos Jimenez de Laiglesia and Fernando Aizpun.