Allen & Overy (A&O) has boosted its corporate energy team in the City with the recruitment of two partners from Herbert Smith.

The transfer of the pair – Paul Griffin and John Geraghty – marks a rare partner-level appointment in the London market for A&O.

Griffin headed up Herbert Smith's oil, gas and liquefied natural gas sector groups having been a partner at the firm since 2000., while Geraghty, who made partner in 2005, focuses on cross-border M&A and joint venture work as well as project development.

A&O head of energy M&A Jeremy Parr commented: "Both Paul and John are extremely well-regarded practitioners and bring with them a vast amount of specialised experience in oil and gas. Their arrival significantly enhances the global energy group and increases our ability to offer a truly international practice."

The energy team at A&O has taken the lead on a number of significant matters including advising Emirates National Oil on its £1.2bn acquisition of the outstanding 48.5% stake in Dragon Oil. The team also benefits from the firm's highly regarded global projects practice.

The two appointments are the first lateral hires that A&O has made in London after recruiting equity capital markets specialist Robert Williams from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom last October.

A spokesman at Herbert Smith said: "We would like to put on record our thanks to Paul and John for their contribution to the pre-eminent reputation our 70-partner global energy practice now has, and to wish them all the best in their future careers."

Earlier today (28 May) Mayer Brown announced that it was hiring A&O finance specialist Chris Arnold as a partner.