Greenberg Traurig Maher has hired DLA Piper's Stuart Jordan as the first partner in its City engineering and construction team in the latest of a series of senior UK hires.

Jordan joined the firm earlier this month from DLA Piper's construction and engineering group, where he was a partner. His practice covers construction procurement, infrastructure, energy and other industrial construction contracts.

Jordan (pictured) commented: "This was an obvious move for me to make given the departure of some of my colleagues to the firm earlier this year, who I have continued to work with closely, and developed great practice synergies with.

"The plan is to grow the practice to create a construction group that can service the real estate, energy and infrastructure markets."

Greenberg opened its London arm in July 2009 after recruiting high-profile corporate partner Paul Maher to launch the practice. The practice currently has 23 partners and a total of 51 fee earners after implementing one of the most aggressive UK expansion programmes yet seen from a US-based law firm.

The latest appointment follows the hire of White & Case counsel Emma Menzies as a partner for Greenberg's banking and capital markets practice in May this year.

The firm's London office is set to move next month to larger premises on 200 Gray's Inn Road. The office will occupy nearly 18,000 sq ft on the top floor of the building, which is also home to ITN.

Greenberg Traurig's referral relationship with Olswang was ended at the close of 2009 following the firm's expansion in the UK.

The firm now has 30 offices in the US, Europe and Asia.

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