Baker & McKenzie has significantly boosted its regulatory capabilities in the City with the hire of highly rated Barlow Lyde & Gilbert partner Ian Mason.

Mason, the former head of the FSA's wholesale group in the the body's enforcement division, becomes Bakers' second financial regulatory partner in the City.

He represents clients facing Financial Services Authority (FSA) charges, and was until recently advising former Dorsey & Whitney partner Andrew Rimmington on his charges for insider trading.

Mason joined Barlows at the beginning of 2006 as a partner in the firm's financial services regulatory team. He is understood to have handed his resignation in last Friday and is currently negotiating his start date at Bakers.

The global firm has been looking to build out its financial services practice for a number of years.

Bakers London head of financial services Arun Srivastava commented: "Ian has an outstanding reputation in the financial services field and impeccable regulatory credentials gained from the FSA and, before that, the London Stock Exchange.

"Regulation has assumed ever greater importance for our clients and the regime in the UK and across Europe is fast changing. Ian's hire will boost an already thriving practice and ensure that the firm remains at the cutting edge of developments in this area."