Ashurst has expanded its communications practice in the City with a senior hire from Clifford Chance (CC).

Dhana Doobay is set to leave CC – where she was director of the international telecommunications projects – and join Ashurst as a partner by mid-August.

With the addition of Doobay, Ashurst's communications group will consist of three partners and around 15 associates. The group sits within the top 10 London law firm's wider corporate practice.

Ashurst partner Andrew McMillan told Legal Week: "What attracted us to her is that she has a focus on the international side; particularly in the Middle East, where we have an office in Dubai and have recently received a licence to practise in Abu Dhabi. Her addition to the team is a great fit for us and we very much look forward to working with her."

The last UK partner-level appointment for Ashurst came in February when the firm recruited project finance partner Matthias Schemuth from White & Case. Schemuth has since relocated to the firm's Tokyo office.

In the last 12 months Ashurst's communications group has been involved in the acquisition by US media giant NBC Universal of UK pay-TV company Sparrowhawk Holdings, thought to be worth around £175m. The team also took the firm's first instruction from the Pakistani Government, advising the state on a new fourth-generation satellite.