Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has strengthened its regulatory practice with the hire of Daren Allen from DLA Piper.

Allen joined the UK top 20 firm earlier this week (4 January) as a partner in its London disputes group.

He served as a partner within DLA Piper's litigation and regulation group and headed up the national firm's financial services team until his departure at the end of December.

Allen acts for financial institutions and large corporates in relation to complex regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings. He specialises in advising on fraud, corruption and money laundering. He also acted for the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group on the 2006 revised Guidance Notes for the financial sector.

Allen said: "The new regulatory landscape will bring with it a whole set of new challenges for those in the financial sector. To meet these challenges, clients need both a breadth and quality of financial service expertise.

"Working with the team at BLP offers a real opportunity to grow the banking litigation and investigations business and help clients address the pressing issues around financial crime."

BLP commercial dispute resolution head Nathan Willmott said: "Daren is going to add significant depth and expertise to our financial services expertise. Corporate and financial crime is high on the agenda of our financial institution clients."

The news comes after BLP recruited Jones Day's City head of employment litigation Lisa Mayhew last October.

Mayhew's practice focuses on the financial services sector and her previous experience has included advising on High Court cases involving team moves and restrictive covenants, bonuses, executive severance, equal pay and whistleblowing.

DLA Piper's litigation and regulatory group includes the former director of the Serious Fraud Office, Robert Wardle.