Latham & Watkins has bagged a new partner for its London office with the hire of Daniel Maze from Morgan Stanley.

Maze, who joins Latham's City finance practice on 1 March, was previously an executive director in the leveraged and acquisition finance group at Morgan Stanley in London, where he worked for three years.

Prior to joining the banking giant, Maze practised in the banking and capital markets team at White & Case, becoming a partner in 2004. He specialises in acquisition finance, as well as advising on debt restructurings and project finance transactions.

Commenting on the appointment, Latham London chief Andrew Moyle said: "We have built one of the preeminent combined high-yield and senior leveraged finance capabilities in the market and [Maze's] arrival further bolsters our banking practice."

The hire follows the loss of finance partner Jacques McChesney, who quit Latham late last year to join the City arm of US rival Shearman & Sterling.

Meanwhile, Latham last week unveiled plans for its long-awaited launch in the Middle East, with the top five US firm set to open offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha in the next couple of months.

Vinson & Elkins partner Rindala Beydoun is joining the firm to head the regional practice, while Latham plans to bulk up its local offering by transferring a number of current partners and associates to the three offices.

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