Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge has made its first partner hire in London so far this year, picking up private equity lawyer Shawn Atkinson from Kirkland & Ellis.

Atkinson, who was a senior associate at Kirkland, joined the City arm of the US outfit as a partner on 1 March, becoming the second private equity partner in the practice, which launched in July 2009.

His practice covers a broad range of private equity and venture capital matters and he has previously advised clients including Columbia Capital, Bessamer Venture Partners and Bain Capital.

He will work alongside partner David Ramm who the Boston-based firm hired from legacy firm Campbell Hooper, which is now part of Speechly Bircham.

Edwards Angell drew up a new corporate plan in January 2008, after it merged with legacy UK firm Kendall Freeman, stating its intention to grow its intellectual property and private equity capabilities in the City.

Laurence Harris, head of Edwards Angell's London office, said: "We said we would be looking both to strengthen our existing practices in London, and to add new ones where they reflected the existing US strength of the firm. Private equity and venture capital is a hugely strong area for the firm in the US, and we were delighted when David Ramm joined us last summer to start this practice in London."

Atkinson takes the London partner count to 23. The most recent addition was Berwin Leighton Paisner competition partner Beckett McGrath, who joined in October.