Ropes & Gray has ramped up in London with the hire of a restructuring partner and the promotion of its first home-grown City partner.

The US firm has brought in former Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft restructuring partner James Douglas, doubling the number of partners in its London restructuring team.

The move reunites Douglas, who joined this week (1 November) from Minter Ellison Rudd Watts in New Zealand, with his former Cadwalader restructuring contemporary Tony Horspool, who joined in January this year from Weil Gotshal & Manges.

Douglas, who left Cadwalader in 2007, has been involved in several high-profile restructuring cases including TXU Europe, MyTravel and Schefenacker.

Ropes & Gray London co-managing partner Mike Goetz said: "We have known James for many years – he will make a great addition to the team here in London."

Meanwhile, the Boston-based firm has made its first partner promotion in London since opening in the City late last year. Banking partner Tania Bedi, who joined Ropes & Gray as counsel earlier this year from White & Case, was promoted following a global partnership meeting in San Francisco.

During her time at White & Case, Bedi was seconded to Deutsche Bank on two occasions. She worked alongside London managing partners Goetz and Maurice Allen on Liberty Global's £3.1bn acquisition of Unitymedia, which was the firm's first large mandate for its London office.

The latest partner additions take Ropes & Gray's London office to eight partners.