Herbert Smith is set to add a partner in Russia with the hire of a lawyer from Allen & Overy's (A&O) Moscow office.

Ed Baring, who has been a senior associate at A&O in Moscow since 2001, is expected to join Herbert Smith at the beginning of December. He will become the ninth partner in the firm's Moscow office and the third dedicated finance partner.

Baring, who trained at Slaughter and May, focuses on bank lending, trade, acquisition and real estate finance and securitisation. He will work closely with Moscow finance partner Alexander Currie, as well as London-based partner John Balsdon, who has an active Russia-related practice.

Baring's move marks the second partner hire for the office in recent months, with the September addition of capital markets partner Evgeny Zelensky, who joined from investment bank Renaissance Capital.

Herbert Smith's Moscow managing partner Allen Hanen said that although the Russian market is currently volatile, the firm has taken a long-term strategic view to develop its presence in the country.

"Ed will be a valuable addition to our finance practice in Moscow as we seek to grow our share of loan-related work," he added.

DLA Piper also promoted an A&O lawyer to partner this year with the May hire of its new Russia banking head Vyacheslav Khorovskiy, who was a counsel at the magic circle firm's Moscow office.

More news, deals and comment on Herbert Smith

Herbert Smith on the Legal Week Wiki

More international news, comment and analysis