Allen & Overy (A&O) private client spin-off Maurice Turnor Gardner (MTG) has bolstered its ranks with the hire of two new partners for its trusts and pensions practice.

Jenny McKeown and Helena Berman are set to join the boutique's partnership in September from pensions and HR consultancy Mercer, where they are currently senior in-house pensions litigators.

The duo, whose hire will increase the firm's partner headcount to eight, will specialise in pensions litigation as well as contentious trust and probate matters and partnership-related disputes.

The boutique recently celebrated its first anniversary after a five-partner, 11-associate private client team broke away from A&O last year in the wake of the magic circle firm's major restructuring.

MTG senior partner Clare Maurice said: "We're delighted to be diversifying and strengthening our firm with the addition of Jenny and Helena, whose specialist pensions expertise is a rare thing and will be a perfect complement to our existing practice. Mercer is the leading name in pensions, and we are extremely fortunate to have attracted two partners with such a bluechip background."

In August the firm hired tax specialist Fiona McHugh from PricewaterhouseCoopers to strengthen its private wealth team. She will join the firm as an associate later this year.