Hogan Lovells has strengthened its London debt capital markets (DCM) practice with the hire of Dennis Dillon from the City arm of Sidley Austin.

Dillon, who joined Hogan Lovells this week (17 January), is US-qualified and specialises in structured finance transactions, working with clients such as Merrill Lynch.

He also regularly advises clients on US regulatory issues and represents investment managers on derivatives transactions, project finance and secured and unsecured lending.

His hire takes the partner count in Hogan Lovells' London DCM practice to seven, and he becomes the third US-qualified DCM partner in London.

Hogan Lovells co-head of finance David Hudd said: "A key part of our strategy is to develop a prominent structured finance practice in both London and New York.

"The recruitment of Dennis in London and, recently, Emil Arca in New York to build on our existing capabilities is part of this."

Dillon moved to London in 2000 from Sidley's Singapore office. He has previously worked on deals such as Merrill Lynch's $279m (£175m) leveraged buyout of PT Berau Coal, Indonesia's fourth-largest coal mining company.

His appointment marks the third partner hire in London since the Hogan Lovells merger went live on 1 May 2010. It follows the hire of competition specialist Suyong Kim from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr in May 2010 and banking partner Stuart Brinkworth from SJ Berwin the following month.