K&L Gates has boosted its London financial services practice with the hire of the London managing partner of US firm Katten Muchin Rosenman.

Martin Cornish, who joined the firm today (7 February), advises hedge funds, commodities and derivatives brokers and dealers and banks on a variety of matters involving funds, financial services regulation and derivatives.

Before joining Katten in 2001, Cornish held several in-house roles including a stint at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Before this period, he was a partner at UK firm Simmons & Simmons.

Cornish's hire makes him the latest in a string of partners to join K&L Gates' London office. Most recently, the firm announced the addition of corporate partner Christopher Germain and energy partner Mathew Kidwell who joined from Bryan Cave and Shearman & Sterling respectively.

London managing partner Tony Griffiths commented: "There are few better known names than Martin Cornish's in the London hedge fund community. Adding Martin's market credibility and years of experience to our global investment management practice is a significant step in the continued development of that international practice."

Cornish added: "K&L Gates has a leading US funds practice and strong capabilities in Asia as well as Europe, which is one of the things that attracted me to the firm."

Katten Muchin has appointed finance partner Edward Black as the new head of its London office.