Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has hired an new employment partner from Baker & McKenzie in a boost for the US firm's European network.

Mark Zimmer joined the firm's Munich office from Bakers today (1 April). He advises on employment law in restructurings, M&A, collective dismissals and union negotiations.

Gibson Dunn's 19-lawyer Munich office focuses on M&A, private equity, real estate and capital markets work.

Commenting on the hire, Gibson Dunn managing partner Ken Doran said: "Mark is an experienced employment lawyer whose practice complements our growing European M&A practice.

"[He] has worked almost exclusively in the field of international and mostly transaction-oriented employment law for the last 12 years and has been involved in an impressive number of high-profile cross-border transactions and complex reorganizations."

Gibson Dunn Munich chief Michael Walther added: "Mark presents an outstanding opportunity to bring our employment practice to the next level."

The hire continues a run of partner-level appointments by Gibson Dunn in recent weeks, with the Los Angeles-based law firm having hired Herbert Smith international arbitration head Laurence Shore for its City arm in February. Recent recruits in the US include former Jones Day LA corporate chief Jai Pathak and O'Melveny & Myers outsourcing partner Bill Peters.

Last week Bakers lost Milan antitrust partner Davide Balboni to SJ Berwin, although March also saw capital markets partner Peter Castellon join from Citigroup and principal economist Richard Boykin join the tax practice, both in London.