King & Spalding is set to launch a dispute resolution practice in its London office with the hire of litigation partner Tom Sprange from the City base of US firm Steptoe & Johnson.

Sprange, who joined the firm this week (16 May), focuses on multijurisdictional disputes and has advised on arbitration proceedings in centres including the International Court of Arbitration and the American Arbitration Association.

He is both UK and Australia-qualified and has experience conducting internal investigations, audits and risk assessments for clients in 
areas of regulatory compliance, such as anti-corruption and money laundering.

The appointment comes after a period of aggressive international expansion for King & Spalding, with the firm hiring two partners in London – competition lawyer Suzanne Rab from Hogan Lovells and corporate 
partner Martin Hunt from Bracewell & Giuliani.

The firm also launched in Moscow earlier this month with the 
hire of oil and gas partner Jennifer Josefson from White & Case and partners Sergey Komolov, Olga Kozyr and Alla Naglis from Hogan Lovells.

London co-managing partner Garry Pegg commented: "Our aim is to build a formidable disputes practice in London to replicate the firm's strengths in the US and elsewhere. The recent hires of Suzanne and Martin from Hogan Lovells and Bracewell & Giuliani contribute to our strategy of expanding into a full-service office 
in London."

Sprange's departure leaves Steptoe & Johnson's London office with 16 partners.