New York firm Dewey Ballantine has strengthened its Frankfurt capital markets practice with the hire of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Walburga Kullmann – the latest in a run of Dewey recruits from the magic circle firm.

Kullmann, who joined the magic circle firm in 1990 has been a partner since 1994, focuses on structured products debt financing and admission to listing on the stock exchange. Her recent clients include Credit Suisse, Commerzbank and Dresdner Bank.

The hire of Kullman, who is among a clutch of Freshfields partners to have switched to Dewey in recent months, takes the headcount of the US firm's Frankfurt banking and finance team to 12, six of whom are partners.

Last month, Frankfurt-based corporate partner Thomas Schmuck switched from Freshfields to Dewey while Freshfields tax associate Frank Tschesche joined the US outfit's Frankfurt arm as a local partner in January.

Other notable moves from Freshfields to Dewey include capital markets partner Carlo Kostka and litigation partner Alastair Crawford, who both joined the London office earlier this year.