Taylor Wessing has hired Barlow Lyde & Gilbert's head of financial services Tim Strong as part of a drive to build up the firm's own financial services arm.

Strong (pictured) is set to join Taylor Wessing as a partner in the financial disputes team, with a joining date yet to be confirmed. He has been at Barlows for 10 years, eight of which he has spent as a partner.

He specialises in complex financial disputes and regulatory issues for banks, asset managers and hedge funds.

Taylor Wessing financial disputes head Shane Gleghorn said: "We have been growing the department for a period of three to four years with both partner and associate hires and it is a strong focus for the firm.

"Over one third of our revenue is generated from litigation and the volume of financial services litigation and investigation has increased significantly in recent years. We will continue to grow our financial disputes practice in London, and across our other offices in Europe, the Middle East and China."

Barlows senior partner Simon Konsta said: "We hope it goes well for Tim at Taylor Wessing, and thank him for his efforts whilst with us."

The news follows the hire of partner Emma Danks from Clifford Chance for Taylor Wessing's private equity practice in June this year.