Reed Smith has made its third lateral partner hire in London in a month, bringing in litigator Robert Falkner from Morgan Lewis & Bockius.

Falkner joins the US firm's European and Middle East dispute resolution practice today (1 October), bringing with him a practice focused on financial services. He has experience representing clients including investment banks, broker dealers and fund managers.

Falkner had been with Morgan Lewis since 2004 when he joined as a partner from broker-dealer Cantor Fitz-gerald, where he was general counsel and director.

His hire comes only weeks after Reed Smith bolstered its London financial industry group with a double partner hire from Addleshaw Goddard. Banking partners Phillip Slater and Lucy Newcomb joined in early September.

Richard Spafford, UK head of Reed Smith's financial services litigation group, said: "Rob will add his expertise, extensive in-house experience and profile to our powerful cross-border financial services regulatory team at a very important time."

Reed Smith has around 60 fee earners in its London commercial disputes practice including 16 partners. Before Falkner's appointment the team's most recent partner hire was in February 2008 when it brought in Stephen York and Shai Wade from Kilpatrick Stockton.

In contrast, his departure leaves Morgan Lewis's City arm with one litigation partner, following the retirement of office head Bob Goldspink at the end of last month. Morgan Lewis has appointed Charles Lubar as the new head of its London practice.

Reed Smith on the Legal Week Wiki