Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has sealed the hire of former Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker City finance partner Keith Wilson.

Wilson, who headed up the finance team in Paul Hastings' London office until leaving in November last year, was voted into the partnership at the top 20 City law firm last week. Before joining the US firm in 2005, he was at legacy Lovells, where he joined the partnership in 1998.

Wilson said he made the move because he wanted to be part of a practice that had a stronger focus on asset finance, as well as the oil and gas sector that he specialises in.

He has joined BLP's asset finance team, which sits within the wider finance practice at BLP and is headed up by rail specialist Russell Clifford.

Wilson said: "BLP has a strong existing asset finance practice which is also a strategic priority of the firm. This attracted me, as did the enthusiasm among the finance practice management. I was also impressed by the quality of the related practice areas, such as tax and funds."

Clifford recently took over leadership of BLP's asset finance team from Nicky Davies as part of a wider shake-up to boost the efficiency of the finance practice. The review, which is being led by finance head Matthew Kellett, could see partners leave the firm or joining other practice groups.

The news comes as BLP has also bolstered its corporate finance arm with the hire of Charles Russell partner Alexander Keepin. Keepin has been a partner at Charles Russell since 2005.

Other recent additions to the finance department at BLP have included Clifford Chance senior associate Lucy Oddy, who joined as a partner in November. Recent departures have included banking partner Jennifer Mackerras, who joined Wragge & Co on 1 March.

BLP's finance practice currently has 42 partners and 120 other fee earners in London. Paul Hastings now has a total of six City finance partners.