Pillsbury has boosted its London office with a magic circle hire, bringing in Allen & Overy (A&O) outsourcing and technology partner Ian Ferguson.

Ferguson, who has been a partner at A&O since 1992 and served as global head of the firm's communications, media and technology group, will join Pillsbury on 7 September. His hire marks the first partner-level appointment Pillsbury has made in London in 2009, on the back of three lateral hires in 2008.

Ferguson's practice focuses on outsourcing, technology and telecoms, covering areas such as strategic investments, privatisations, M&A, joint ventures, regulation and commercial contracts.

He will be the ninth partner in Pillsbury's London office, of which seven are UK-qualified. Four of the partners split their time between the capital and the US.

Pillsbury chair Jim Rishwain said: "Our growth in London mirrors our strategy globally, with a keen industry focus in areas such as technology and energy to help our clients meet their objectives in shaping the future economy."

Last year the US national firm bulked up in London with the hire of corporate partner James Campbell from Jones Day, finance partner Denis Petkovic from Chadbourne & Parke and intellectual property partner Rafi Azim-Khan from Wragge & Co.

In Legal Week's recent survey of international firms in London, Pillsbury said that it wanted to grow its City base by 10%-20% during the next 18 months.