LG and Pinsent Masons have expanded their respective partner ranks with two hires in the City.

Pinsents has appointed Virginie Colaiuta as a partner in its international arbitration team in London. She joins from the Paris arm of US firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed.

Colaiuta, who has most recently been focusing on advising Italian and French corporates in the energy and infrastructure sector, will work with Pinsents head of arbitration Mark Roe.

Roe said: "I am delighted that Virginie is joining us; her expertise will help us develop the Italian and Southern European supply side market. Our projects and construction team has a vibrant and growing international arbitration business in London, Dubai, Singapore and China."

He added: "Our strategy is to grow the business further by developing long-term relationships with contractors operating throughout the Eastern hemisphere."

Separately, City firm LG has strengthened its corporate tax team with the hire of Linklaters counsel Elliot Weston as a partner. Weston's appointment will see him take responsibility for expanding LG's real estate tax practice. He will work with tax partners Michael Murphy and Julian Hickey and corporate head Christopher Tite.

Tite commented: "We are committed to growing our real estate tax structuring team and Elliot's appointment is a vital part of this expansion.† His reputation is exceptional and we are very much looking forward to working with him alongside new and existing real estate clients."