Simmons & Simmons has recruited a corporate partner from Denton Wilde Sapte to expand its China practice.

Tom Deegan, who was a partner in Dentons' Dubai office, has joined Simmons to help shore up its Hong Kong arm.

The hire is part of an attempt by Simmons to rebuild its China practice following a series of high-profile departures. In December last year a five-partner team, including former China managing partner Huen Wong, left the firm to kickstart Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson's new Hong Kong operation. Earlier this year Simmons also lost Hong Kong-based securities partner David Neuville to the local practice of Jones Day.

Simmons is working to re-focus its China offices around corporate and private equity and transferred former London-based head of corporate Damon Le Maitre-George to Hong Kong late last year.

Deegan, who works mainly in the energy and technology, media and telecoms sectors, joined Dentons in 1999 as a senior associate from Lovells. He was initially based in Dentons' Hong Kong office but moved to Dubai before the firm closed its Asian network in 2004.

His clients include the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, which he recently advised on the purchase of liquefied natural gas assets in Indonesia and Australia in a $640m (£319m) deal.

Denton Wilde Sapte chief executive Howard Morris said: "Tom left the firm on amicable terms earlier this year and we wish him well."