Mayer Brown has strengthened its London financial services regulation & enforcement (FSRE) group with the hire of a senior regulatory lawyer from BP's in-house legal team.

Mark Compton, who is joining the firm as a partner, has a particular focus on advising on market abuse, anti-money laundering, economic sanctions and bribery, as well as compliance with the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Prior to joining BP in 2004, Compton spent six years at the Financial Services Authority, while he trained with magic circle firm Slaughter and May, where he qualified into the litigation department.

Compton's appointment follows the arrival of Washington FSRE partner Marc Cohen, who is currently on secondment to Mayer Brown's London office. Cohen has moved to the City to assist the firm's global financial services clients with cross-border strategic, regulatory, enforcement and litigation issues.

Senior partner Sean Connolly said: "Mark's appointment supports our commitment to continuing to invest in this important and topical area. There is a growing need in the current market place for both Mark and Marc's skills in London and Europe, and we look forward to our clients receiving the benefits of that."

The hire comes after fellow US firm McGuireWoods last week announced the hire of Serious Fraud Office general counsel Vivian Robinson QC for its white collar crime practice in London, as law firms beef up their regulatory practices in anticipation of increased enforcement activity.