Denton Wilde Sapte has hired two partners specialising in nuclear work from Hammonds.

Rupert Cowen and Jonathan Leech are expected to join Dentons' City headquarters in the energy, transport and infrastructure group later this month. Leech is currently based in Birmingham and will relocate to London, while Cowen practices with Hammonds in London.

Dentons said it is expanding the nuclear practice in response to an expected increase in demand in the sector. The two new partners will add to an existing team of 15 partners with expertise in the field.

They will work closely with head of energy, transport and infrastructure Christopher McGee-Osborne, senior energy partner Charles Wood and head of environment and health and safety Stephen Shergold.

Dentons' hires come as rival City firm Norton Rose has won a major instruction in the nuclear sector.

The top 10 firm has advised the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission on the signing of a 25-year uranium mining agreement with the French nuclear power utility Areva, which has won the right to explore and mine Jordan's newly-discovered uranium deposits.

The agreement, reached on 21 February, is one of the largest contracts ever signed in the country and marks the launch of Jordan's domestic nuclear programme. City-based finance partner Chris Brown led the Norton Rose team.