Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has brought in its first major lateral hire since the magic circle firm launched its US litigation earlier this year.

David Onorato is to join the New York office as a partner in the litigation practice, coming in from Bank of America where he was deputy general counsel and director of litigation.

Onorato will focus on advising financial institutions in matters including civil-litigation claims involving securities and other financial products.

His hire takes Freshfields' US litigation practice to eight partners and 21 associates across its New York and Washington offices.

Onorato's hire comes after Freshfields formally launched its litigation practice in the US in January with a trio of top-level hires from Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Covington & Burling. At that point the firm brought in Willkie Farr's Benito Romano and Covington's Aaron Marcu, both of whom headed the white-collar defence groups at their respective firms, as well as Covington litigation partner Adam.

The firm had already targeted an arbitration launch in Washington in September 2008, with the relocation of partner Nigel Blackaby from Paris along with three associates

Commenting on the latest hire Chris Pugh, head of Freshfields' global dispute resolution practice, said: "David is an exceptionally well-regarded litigator in the US and has been involved in several key class actions involving more than $1bn (£622m) over the past five years."

Freshfields' move to bolster its New York practice follows a spate of hiring by magic circle rival Linklaters in New York. Most recently the firm added tax specialist Lewis Steinberg from UBS.