Clifford Chance (CC) has made a high-profile hire for its London corporate practice with the addition of Ashurst corporate finance partner Steven Fox.

Fox (pictured), who also headed Ashurst's Madrid office between 2003 and 2007, has been a partner in the firm's City corporate department since 2000. His practice focuses on international corporate finance and M&A, including equity capital markets, public company takeovers and cross-border deals.

His work also includes a focus on initial public offerings, and while at Ashurst has spent time seconded to the Listing Department of the London Stock Exchange – now the UK Listing Authority.

Fox's key clients include European and US investment banks and financial institutions as well as publicly-quoted companies. Previous instructions while at Ashurst have included acting for National Express.

CC global corporate head Matthew Layton said: "As one of the most highly regarded lawyers in the M&A market, Steven is an important addition at a senior level to our global corporate practice.

"His transactional experience, having worked for a number of multinational corporations and investment banks, will further strengthen our ability to deliver the highest quality services."

The hire marks the second recent City lateral for CC's corporate department after the firm recruited top-rated Macfarlanes M&A partner Tim Lewis in April this year.

CC also hired former Ashurst partner Alan Kitchin to lead its Tokyo corporate and projects practice in February this year.

Meanwhile, departures from Ashurst's corporate department in the last year have included corporate and securities partner Jonathan Angell, who joined Dechert in March, and corporate and commercial partner Andrew Edge, who joined Stephenson Harwood during the same month

In addition, corporate partner Matthew McDonald has announced his departure from Ashurst. He officially stepped down from the partnership earlier this month (2 November), with his next destination as yet unknown.