Norton Rose has strengthened its Paris employment capabilities with the hire of a three-lawyer team from Simmons & Simmons.

The trio, led by partner Laure Joncour alongside of counsel Marie-Therese Euginio and Elodie Grangier, joined Norton Rose this week, bringing the number of partners in the UK firm's Paris office to 18.

Joncour will be the lead partner in Norton Rose's France employment practice, which now comprises four fee earners.

Joncour's practice focuses on advising companies in the technology and financial institution sectors, covering issues related to bargaining agreements, labour relations and dispute resolution, M&A and restructurings.

Norton Rose Paris managing partner George Paterson said: "Laure and her team's experience in managing the requirements of multinational concerns, in particular working with their subsidiaries to understand the implications and requirements of French employment law, will be an asset for our group."

Joncour, who joined Simmons' Paris office in 1994 and made partner in 2003, began her career in the legal department of the French social security administration in Paris in 1990. She was admitted to the Paris Bar in 1994.

Eugino worked in Norton Rose's Paris employment team from 1997 to 2003, when she left to join Joncour's team at Simmons.

Joncour said: "I have followed keenly the international developments of Norton Rose Group. Their global reputation, their innovative key sector approach and the synergies between the teams in their global offices were convincing factors in my decision to join them."

Simmons' Paris employment team will continue to be led by Laurence Renard.

Joncour's departure from Simmons comes after the firm lost a three-lawyer Paris real estate team to K&L Gates last month (14 March), a move which left the UK firm without a real estate partner in France.