Societe Generale Private Banking Hambros (SGPB Hambros) has launched a group to advise the legal sector with the hire of two private bankers.

Mark Dean and Dominic Peyton, who joined SGPB Hambros at the end of last year as senior private bankers, will provide wealth management advice to lawyers in private practice and at the Bar.

Prior to joining SGPB Hambros, Dean was a director at Citi Private Bank, acting as a client relationship manager to UK and international law firms based in London. Peyton was formerly a partner at Coutts & Co in the professional client group, managing a private banking team acting for clients including high-earning solicitors and barristers.

The bank said: "As a result of the rapid growth in the size and profitability of the legal sector within the City of London, there has been a significant increase in the number of legal professionals seeking guidance with the management of their financial affairs."

SGPB Hambros is the UK wealth management arm of Societe Generale Private Banking. It provides wealth management services including investment management, financial planning, trust and banking services and had more than £10bn of assets under management as of September 2010. It employs more than 500 people and has offices in the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, Gibraltar and The Bahamas.

SGPB Hambros joins other banks including Citi Private Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland already servicing clients in this space.