Simmons & Simmons is gearing up to shift the focus of its key energy and infrastructure practice away from its traditional client base as the City giant moves to cash in on the buoyant private sector.

In a symbolic move, the firm has drawn up a new-look 'top 10′ list of priority clients in a bid to diversify away from its traditional public sector client base.

Simmons is now targeting a string of new private energy and infrastructure clients across the UK, the Middle East and Asia.