Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson has turned to Olswang for its latest partner hire, bringing in competition specialist Alasdair Balfour.

Balfour, who has been a partner at Olswang since 2007, will join the US firm in London on 1 May as the office's first antitrust and competition partner since Craig Arnott returned to Australia last July, working with two associates.

Prior to Olswang, Balfour was at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for a decade. His practice focuses on merger control and cartel work.

He becomes the 13th partner in Fried Frank's City base, alongside former Ashurst managing partner Justin Spendlove, who splits his time between London and the New York.

Fried Frank chair Valerie Ford Jacob commented: "Antitrust is a critical component of any large-scale transaction and Alasdair will greatly assist our clients in evaluating and structuring transactions in order to accomplish their objectives."

Barry Nigro, the head of the firm's antitrust practice, added. "Alasdair's extensive experience in high-profile merger investigations and complex antitrust litigation and cartel investigations will greatly enhance our ability to offer seamless antitrust advice and counsel to clients of the firm around the world."

Balfour's move marks Fried Frank's second partner hire in the past six months after former Allen & Overy leveraged finance partner Mark Wesseldine joined the firm's finance practice at the turn of the year.