Bird & Bird has launched a dedicated competition practice in Spain with the hire of a partner from DLA Piper.

The top 30 UK firm has hired Antonio Creus as a partner in its Madrid office to lead the new practice group. Creus has more than 20 years' experience advising on competition matters before the European Commission and had been a partner at DLA since 2004.

Bird & Bird's Madrid arm has 25 lawyers and five partners, with the latest hire allowing the office to offer commercial, transactional, regulatory and contentious advice on IT, intellectual property and telecoms matters.

Richard Eccles, head of the firm's international European Union and competition group, said: "Not only will his competition experience prove vital, but his international credentials and extensive experience before the European Court will play an integral part in our continued growth and development."