Former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Weil Gotshal & Manges finance partners Perry Noble and Stuart Hills have joined the partnership at DMH Stallard.

Noble (pictured) has become a partner in the corporate team, having initially joined the London and southeast outfit as a consultant in September 2009.

He left Freshfields in September 2008, having served as co-head of the magic circle firm's finance practice.

Hills, meanwhile, joined DMH earlier this month after leaving Weil at the end of last year.

Hills joined Weil in mid-2008 from the London office of O'Melveny & Myers. He had spent four years at the US firm's City arm after joining as a partner in 2004 from Freshfields, where he was a senior associate.

DMH managing partner Tim Aspinall commented: "I am delighted that Perry and Stuart have chosen to become partners with the firm. They are a key part of our strategy to be a compelling alternative to the UK top 50.

"At a time when many users of law firms are increasingly critical of high and inflexible fee structures, our firm is focused on being efficient and sharing the benefits with clients by delivering greater value for money and high partner visibility on assignments."

News of Hills' departure from Weil comes only weeks after London restructuring partner Tony Horspool left the firm for the City arm of Ropes & Gray. Horspool also left Weil after around 18 months with the firm.