White & Case's Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) capital markets head Simon Morgan has left the firm to join US firm Chadbourne & Parke in Moscow.

Morgan joins Chadbourne's Moscow office as partner, as the New York-based firm moves to expand its capital markets practice in Russia and CEE.

As well as heading up White & Case's CEE capital markets practice, Morgan also led the Moscow bank finance and capital markets groups and was co-head of the CEE banking and finance practice.

Prior to moving to Russia in 2008, Morgan worked in White & Case's London office, where he advised on structured finance, securitisation and capital markets products with a focus on structured cross-border emerging markets transactions.

Moscow managing partner Jennifer Handz commented: "Given his many years of diverse experience in the banking and finance industries and in-depth knowledge of the business environment in Russia and the region generally, Simon is recognised as a leading capital markets lawyer in Moscow."

Chadbourne managing partner Charles O'Neill added: "This hire demonstrates Chadbourne's ongoing commitment to the growth of this practice."

The news comes two months after it emerged that Chadbourne banking partner Dmitry Gubarev was leaving to join fellow US firm Dewey & LeBoeuf in Moscow.