DLA Piper has added a partner to its finance and projects practice with the hire of an in-house energy specialist.

Darren Walsh joined the national firm's Manchester office earlier this month from Simon Carves, the global construction and engineering subsidiary of India's Punj Lloyd, where he was vice president, handling legal and commercial affairs.

He has more than 15 years' experience in the domestic and international nuclear and energy sector and specialises in reactor and waste management and the international transport of nuclear materials. He previously worked for British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) and British Nuclear Group.

Walsh will be reunited with DLA Piper Manchester energy partner Ian Wood, after the duo worked together at BNFL on the restructuring of the UK's civil nuclear industry in the mid-2000s.

DLA EMEA finance and projects head Bob Charlton said: "We see the nuclear power market as an important part of our energy offering. Expansion internationally is widely anticipated and we are delighted to welcome Darren in order to deepen and develop our offering in the important arena of nuclear power."

Walsh's move to DLA comes alongside the hire of CMS Cameron McKenna's investment funds practice head Gawain Hughes for the firm's City office.

Hughes joined DLA on 6 September, becoming the fourth partner in the investment funds team, which is headed by City partner David Williams.