Willkie Farr & Gallagher has hired the head of Herbert Smith's investigations and corporate crime unit Peter Burrell, to launch a UK anti-bribery practice in the City.

Burrell, who specialises in contentious regulatory work including conducting and managing internal investigations, is set to become the second partner in Willkie's London office alongside US corporate and securities partner Jon Lyman.

Litigator Burrell has been a partner at Herbert Smith since 2000, during which time he has acted on a number of high profile investigations, including the prosecutions of water company Severn Trent and construction company Mabey & Johnson by the Serious Fraud Office for overseas corruption.