Ashurst is set to bolster its London restructuring team with the hire of White & Case partner Dan Hamilton.

Hamilton – who was appointed to lead the US firm's London financial restructuring and insolvency practice last year – has informed the White & Case partnership that he will be leaving to join Ashurst.

Details of the move, including a start date, are still to be finalised.

Ashurst restructuring managing partner Mark Vickers said: "Dan's appointment is in direct response to the demand for advisers who combine specialised debt restructuring expertise with a knowledge of the complex financing structures, particularly in the field of leveraged finance, which were put in place at the height of the bull market."

Senior partner Charlie Geffen, added: "Dan has a wealth of experience in complex debt restructurings and is well-known in the market as a technically excellent, client-focused practitioner."

White & Case said in a statement that it had already started looking for at least one heavyweight restructuring partner earlier this summer and was intending to replace Hamilton and expand the team.

A spokesperson said: "We can confirm that Dan Hamilton has stated his intention to leave the firm and to join Ashurst. Dan is a well-liked colleague and a highly valued partner and we are disappointed that he has decided to leave us. However, we appreciate his reasons for doing so and wish him well in the future.

He added: "The nature of most current restructurings requires both restructuring and finance expertise and we are confident that the depth of experience across our restructuring and finance practice, and our intention to replace Dan, will allow us to continue to be market leaders."

News of Hamilton's departure came after Legal Week reported that former White & Case capital markets partner Tim Jeveons was to join Greenberg Traurig Maher's London office.

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